Lasagna

Here’s a classic recipe for homemade lasagna—rich, cheesy, and hearty.

Ingredients (serves 6–8)

For the Meat Sauce:

• 1 lb (450 g) ground beef (or a mix of beef and pork)
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 can (28 oz) crushed tomatoes
• 1 can (6 oz) tomato paste
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1 tsp dried basil
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)

For the Cheese Mixture:

• 15 oz ricotta cheese
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 tsp dried parsley or fresh chopped parsley

Other Ingredients:

• 9–12 lasagna noodles (regular or no-boil)
• 3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• Extra Parmesan for topping

Instructions

1. Prepare Meat Sauce:

1. In a large skillet or pot, sauté onion until soft.
2. Add garlic and cook 1 minute.
3. Add ground beef and cook until browned. Drain excess fat.
4. Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, oregano, basil, salt, pepper, and optional red pepper flakes.
5. Simmer 15–20 minutes to blend flavors.

2. Prepare Cheese Mixture:

• In a bowl, combine ricotta, egg, Parmesan, and parsley. Mix well.

3. Cook Noodles (if not using no-boil):

• Boil lasagna noodles according to package directions, then drain and lay flat on a towel.

4. Assemble Lasagna:

1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. Spread a thin layer of meat sauce on the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish.
3. Layer noodles over sauce.
4. Spread 1/3 of ricotta mixture over noodles.
5. Sprinkle 1 cup mozzarella over ricotta.
6. Repeat layers 2 more times (sauce → noodles → ricotta → mozzarella).
7. Top final layer with remaining meat sauce and mozzarella. Sprinkle extra Parmesan on top.

5. Bake:

• Cover with foil and bake 25 minutes.
• Remove foil and bake 20 minutes more until cheese is golden and bubbly.
• Let lasagna rest 10–15 minutes before slicing.

💡 Tips:

• For extra flavor, add sautéed mushrooms, spinach, or zucchini to the meat sauce.
• Use fresh herbs if available—basil, oregano, or parsley.
• Letting it rest before serving helps it slice cleanly.

I can also give a quick stovetop lasagna version that cooks in one pan without pre-boiling noodles if you want something faster.

Do you want me to provide that version?