The Ultimate Lasagna

"Although making lasagna can be a little time consuming this is well worth the effort! I like to make this for company. If I say I am making DH says his mouth starts watering! LOL! This is also requested by my sister and her favorite thing I make. I don't think you will be dissapointed."
 
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photo by Graeme B. photo by Graeme B.
photo by Graeme B.
photo by Graeme B. photo by Graeme B.
Ready In:
2hrs 50mins
Ingredients:
20
Serves:
8
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ingredients

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directions

  • In a Dutch oven, cook sausage, ground beef, onion, and garlic over medium heat until well browned. Drain and return to pot.
  • Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, tomato sauce,and water. Season with sugar, Basil, Fennel seeds, Italian seasoning, 1 tablespoon salt, pepper, and 2 tablespoons parsley.
  • Simmer, covered, for about 1 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally.
  • Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil.
  • Cook lasagna noodles in boiling water for 8 to 10 minutes. Drain noodles, and rinse with cold water. Dry noodles on some paper towels.
  • In a mixing bowl, Combine ricotta cheese with egg, remaining parsley, and 1/2 teaspoon salt.
  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees F To assemble, spread 1 1/2 cups of meat sauce in the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish.
  • Arrange 6 noodles lengthwise over meat sauce. Spread with one half of the ricotta cheese mixture.Top with a third of mozzarella cheese slices. Spoon 1 1/2 cups meat sauce over mozzarella, and sprinkle with 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese.
  • Repeat layers, and top with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
  • Cover with foil: to prevent sticking, either spray foil with cooking spray, or make sure the foil does not touch the cheese.
  • Bake in preheated oven for 25 minutes.
  • Remove foil, and bake an additional 15 -20 minutes.
  • Cool for 15-20 minutes before serving. This makes for easier slicing.

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Reviews

  1. Truly Amazing. I had to adjust a number of things along the way as the quantities seemed all over the place. I also cooked in something Australians call a camp oven which is a big heavy 12" cast iron pot with a cast iron lid on it
     
    • Review photo by Graeme B.
  2. Really excellent recipe which includes all the best elements of lasagne and leaves the common 'fillings' - i.e. a thick bechamel sauce, melted hard cheeses and similar - out of the equation. This makes the meat and tomato flavours come through superbly. It could take more mozzarella on the top given the lack of a white sauce. But overall we loved it and it's better than 95% of lasagne I ate while living Italy.
     
  3. Another great lasagna recipe! I really enjoyed the sweet Italian sausage in it, tasted excellent. Thanks Little Bee....
     
  4. Great lasagna. I didn't change a thing. I used hot bulk sausage. Thanks for posting.
     
  5. This is almost exactly how i made my lasagna yesterday, except i add 2-3 T. butter to the sauce(it helps with to sweeten the tomatoes when sometimes they are a lil sour).And i use 24 0z. ricotta and 3 eggs. this is a great recipe...wish i woulda found it yesterday when i was on here looking for one. i basically made mine up.:)
     
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Tweaks

  1. I pretty much doubled everything except the beef and cottage cheese which I kept the same. I just kept tasting it and adding this and that until it was right
     

RECIPE SUBMITTED BY

I am happily married to my best friend and we just bought our first house! No kids but we have 2 little dogs that we think the world of. I was born in California and although I have been on the East Coast for most of my life I am still displaced! I love the beach and hate the cold! In our free time we love to go to the beach or the mountains and hike or intertube down the lazy Shenendoah River. It is so beautiful there! I have loved to cook all of my life and will read cookbooks like they are novels! Participation & Awards: These are some of the fun games and clubs here at Zaar. <img src="http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y53/DUCHESS13/berriesblinkie.gif" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com"> <img src="http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y53/DUCHESS13/World%20Tour/ZWT2.gif"> <img src="http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t237/akplongmeadow/ZWT3b.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket">
 
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