Homemade Lasagna With Fresh Ricotta Cheese Recipes

HOMEMADE LASAGNA WITH RICOTTA CHEESE

Steps:

• In a large stainless steel bowl or floured workspace, stir together the flour and salt. Create a well in the center and add the eggs and olive oil. Gradually mix the egg mixture into the flour using a fork or your fingers, eventually bringing the ingredients together to form a firm dough. You may need to add a few drops of water if the dough feels too dry.
• Transfer the dough to a flat surface and knead the dough until it's smooth, 3-4 minutes. Try to refrain from adding extra flour when kneading as this will give your pasta a floury taste. Dribble a little olive oil over the dough and place in a plastic bag. Allow to rest for 30 minutes.
• While the dough rests, prepare the sauce. In a large saucepan, brown the sausage and burger. Add the garlic and onions and cook until they are tender, about 1-2 minutes. Add the crushed tomatoes. Season with dried basil, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Simmer until thickened about 30-35 minutes.
• In a medium bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, grated Parmesan, eggs, Italian seasoning, and salt and pepper. Mix well. Refrigerate until ready to assemble the lasagna.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. While the sauce cooks, continue with the pasta. Prepare a large workspace dusting it with flour. Divide the pasta into thirds, returning the extra dough to the bag until ready to use.
• Flatten one piece of dough with a rolling pin to match the size of your pasta roller. Feed the dough through the machine, using the first setting of your machine. Pass the pasta through once, and then fold it into thirds and pass it through again. After that, continue feeding the pasta sheet through the machine at each level (3, 4, 5...) until you reach the desired thickness. For lasagna, I go to 6. Cut this strip of pasta in half, which should measure about 10-11 inches after it has been cut.
• Place each of the thin sheets of pasta on the floured workspace, without touching. Repeat with the remaining dough for a total of six sheets of pasta. Cut each of these sheets in half lengthwise to form narrow strips, for a total of 12.
• Next prepare three baking sheets lined with damp kitchen towels. Bring a large pot of water to boil adding 2 teaspoons salt. Set up a large roasting pan filled with ice water next to the boiling pasta water. Cook the strips of pasta, a few at a time for just a little bit, 1-2 minutes once they return to a boil. Remove from boiling water and slip them into the ice water to cool. Then place them on the damp kitchen towels. Repeat until all of the pasta strips have been cooked.
• Prepare a 12x16 inch lasagna pan by spreading olive oil along the bottom and sides. To assemble the lasagna, spread 1 cup sauce over the bottom of the pan. Place three strips over the sauce, overlapping if necessary. Spread another cup of sauce over the pasta and layer with three more strips. (You have now used 6 of your pasta strips and two cups of your sauce.)
• Next, spread 1 cup sauce, half of the filling, and half of the sliced mozzarella. Repeat with another layer of pasta, 1 cup sauce, the remaining filling, and the remaining slices of mozzarella.
• Top with final three strips of pasta. Pour remaining sauce over the pasta and sprinkle with 1 cup grated Parmesan.
• Tent the lasagna with foil, making sure it doesn't touch the top and bake until bubbly, about 25 minutes. Uncover and bake another 20 minutes until the top is golden and crusty. Allow to rest for 10-12 minutes before cutting into squares to serve.
• Serve with your favorite bread and a salad. Serves 8-10.

EASY RICOTTA CHEESE LASAGNA

Steps:

• 1. Spray a 9x13 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. 2. In a large skillet, combine pasta sauce and browned ground chuck. Bring to a simmer and heat through. 3. In a medium bowl, combine ricotta cheese, egg, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and parmesan cheese. Stir together well. 4. Pour approximately 1 cup of meat sauce into baking dish. Add water and combine with a spoon or fork. 5. Add a layer of lasagna noodles. Do not overlap as the noodles will expand overnight. 6. Add rounded spoonfuls of the ricotta mixture over the noodles and spread evenly. 7. Sprinkle about ¾ cup of mozzarella cheese over the ricotta layer. Top with about 1 cup of meat sauce. Begin a new layer of noodles and repeat as above, ending with remaining meat sauce. Save any remaining mozzarella cheese in an airtight container in the refrigerator. 8. Cover with aluminum foil and refrigerate overnight. 9. Place the covered casserole in a cold oven. Set oven to 350 degrees. Bake for 45 minutes. Remove aluminum foil and top with remaining cheese. Return to oven and bake uncovered for an additional 15 to 25 minutes or until the cheese has melted and the edges are bubbly. 10. Allow the lasagna to rest for 10-15 minutes prior to cutting and serving.

EASY HOMEMADE LASAGNA WITH RICOTTA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees
• Scramble the ground chuck/beef with the chopped onion until browned. Add some salt, pepper and garlic powder, if desired. Drain grease off, if needed.
• Add pasta sauce, tomato sauce, a cup of water and stir.
• Mix ricotta, 2 cups of mozzarella cheese, ¼ cup of parmesan, the beaten egg and Italian seasoning until blended.
• Take a cup of the sauce and spread it on the bottom of a 13x9 casserole pan. Lay down the 3 lasagna noodles and add a fourth, at the bottom of the pan (if needed.). You may have to break a small portion off to get it to fit.
• Take ⅓ of the cheese mixture and spread it over the noodles.
• Repeat layers of sauce, noodles, the cheese mixture 2 more times, ending with the sauce.
• Sprinkle with the remaining mozzarella and parmesan.
• Spray a sheet of foil with cooking spray and cover and bake for 45 minutes.
• Let stand about 10 minutes before serving.

WORLD'S BEST LASAGNA

Steps:

• In a Dutch oven, cook sausage, ground beef, onion, and garlic over medium heat until well browned. Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, tomato sauce, and water. Season with sugar, basil, fennel seeds, Italian seasoning, 1 teaspoon 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. In a mixing bowl, combine ricotta cheese with egg, remaining parsley, and 1/2 teaspoon salt.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• 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 25 minutes. Cool for 15 minutes before serving.