FAQ About Lasagna

To make lasagna from scratch, follow these steps:

Ingredients:

• 9 lasagna noodles
• 1 pound (450g) ground beef or Italian sausage
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 can (14 ounces) crushed tomatoes
• 1 can (6 ounces) tomato paste
• 2 cups (480ml) tomato sauce
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 cups (480g) ricotta cheese
• 1 large egg
• 3 cups (300g) shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/2 cup (50g) grated Parmesan cheese
• Fresh basil leaves (optional, for garnish)

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. Cook the lasagna noodles according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
3. In a large skillet, cook the ground beef or Italian sausage over medium heat until browned. Add chopped onion and minced garlic, and cook until the onion is translucent.
4. Stir in the crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, tomato sauce, dried basil, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper. Simmer the sauce for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
5. In a separate bowl, combine the ricotta cheese and egg. Mix well.
6. To assemble the lasagna, spread a thin layer of the meat sauce on the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking dish. Place three lasagna noodles on top of the sauce.
7. Spread about one-third of the ricotta mixture over the noodles, followed by a layer of meat sauce and a layer of mozzarella cheese.
8. Repeat the layers of noodles, ricotta mixture, meat sauce, and mozzarella cheese two more times.
9. For the final layer, place three lasagna noodles on top, cover them with the remaining meat sauce, and sprinkle with mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
10. Cover the baking dish with foil and bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes.
11. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 15 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and golden.
12. Remove the lasagna from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes before slicing.
13. Garnish with fresh basil leaves, if desired, before serving.