Lasagna is a delicious Italian dish of flat pasta sheets layered with cheese and sauce. Making lasagna from scratch at home is rewarding and allows you to control all the ingredients. With some time and patience, you can make a classic lasagna that tastes even better than what you find at most restaurants.
Start by making a basic tomato sauce. Sauté some garlic in olive oil, then add a can of crushed tomatoes, basil, oregano, salt, and pepper. Simmer for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to blend and intensify. You can also add meat to the sauce such as Italian sausage, ground beef or turkey. Cook the meat before adding to the sauce.
For the cheese layer, use ricotta, mozzarella, parmesan, egg, salt and parsley. Mix everything together thoroughly. You can also add spinach to the cheese for extra nutrition and flavor.
Cook 1 pound of lasagna noodles according to the package directions until al dente; drain and set aside.
To assemble the lasagna, spread some sauce on the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish. Place a single layer of noodles on top. Spread one-third of the ricotta mixture over the noodles. Top with another layer of noodles and one-third of the sauce. Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese.
Repeat the layers twice more, ending with sauce. Spread the remaining mozzarella cheese over the top and sprinkle with parmesan.
Cover with foil and bake at 350 F for 30 minutes. Uncover, and continue baking 15 more minutes until bubbly. Let stand 10 minutes, then cut and serve.
A classic homemade lasagna is a dish to please a crowd. Made with high-quality ingredients and lots of love, this lasagna is sure to become a favorite for years to come! Buon appetito!
