Homemade Best Lasagna

Looking for a really tasty easy to make dinner idea to serve the family or even to take to a potluck dinner.  So this is the recipe for you 😉 This lasagna recipe has changed a bit over the years but it’s always been a favourite among my family and friends. I used to make with only ground beef.  Lately, I added Italian mild sausage. It makes a very unique, yummy taste.

Good luck and enjoy. 

I’m sure everyone has their own favourite go-to lasagna recipe, but this lasagna is amazing.

Ingredients:

• 12 cups of water + salt
• 12 box of lasagna noodle (regular noodle. boil 14-16 noodles you might need more)
• 400 gr mild Italian sausage
• 400 gr lean ground beef
• 1 can of tomato paste (156 ml, 5,5 oz)
• 1 can tomato sauce (680 ml)
• 1 can of crushed or diced tomatoes (796 ml, 28 oz)
• 400 gr ricotta cheese
• 1 package shredded mozzarella cheese (340 gr)
• 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
• 1/2 cup water
• 2 tsp sugar ( brown or white)
• 3,4 tbsp chopped fresh basil or parsley
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning or oregano
• salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
• 3,4 bay leaves
• 1 egg
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 small yellow onion, chopped
• 3,4 cloves garlic, minced
• 3,4 tbsp red or green pepper, diced
• 4,5 white mushroom chopped, optional
• 1 small grated  carrot, optional

Directions:

For the Sauce:

1. In a large skillet or pot over medium heat saute chopped onion, minced garlic, 1 tbsp olive oil until they start softening. Add ground beef and Italian sausage. Stir occasionally until the meat browned. Add salt and pepper also grated carrots, mushrooms, peppers if you’re using. Stir well and cook for about, 3,4 minutes.
2. After that add tomato paste, tomato sauce, crushed tomatoes and water, stir everything together. Add bay leaves, salt and pepper, sugar, half of the basil also Italian seasoning stir. Cook covered about 1 hour on low heat. Stir every 15 minutes.
3. While the sauce is simmering make the ricotta mixture. In a large bowl combine the ricotta cheese, egg, basil or parsley, some salt. Keep in the fridge until ready to use.
4. Cook the noodles according to package instructions and drain. (In a big pot put 12 cups of water add 1/2 tsp salt. Boil the water and add noodles. While cooking the noodles stir very gentle)

Lasagna is wide, flat-shaped pasta, and possibly one of the oldest types of pasta.5. Preheat the oven at 350 F. Lightly coat your baking dish with olive oil or butter.  Spread 1 cup or more of meat sauce on the bottom of the baking dish. Arrange a single layer of 4 noodles over the meat sauce. Spread 1/3 ricotta cheese mixture, 1/3 mozzarella cheese and sprinkle some Parmesan cheese.  Now repeat the process.  Meat, noodle, ricotta cheese mixture, mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese. Cover with foil and bake in preheated oven for about 25-30 minutes.6. Remove foil sprinkle more Parmesan cheese and bake again 25 minutes.  Cool about 15-20 minutes before serving.  Serve with your favourite salad, noodle or rice.

Enjoy 😉