Lasagna A La Amanda Recipes

SEVEN LAYER LASAGNA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
• Cut each of the zucchini in half crosswise and then slice lengthwise into 1/4-inch strips. Toss with 1 tablespoon of the oil and a pinch of salt, and spread on a baking sheet. Cut the portabellas into 1/4-inch strips, and then toss in the remaining 1 tablespoon oil and a pinch of salt and place on a separate baking sheet. Roast for 7 to 8 minutes, then flip and roast until tender and starting to brown, 4 to 5 minutes. The portabellas may take a few minutes longer than the zucchini. Cool the vegetables. Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees F.
• While the vegetables roast, mix 1/2 cup of the Parmesan, the pepper, nutmeg, ricotta, eggs, basil and 1 teaspoon salt in a large bowl until well combined.
• Spread 1 1/2 cups of the marinara in the bottom of a baking dish and top with an even layer of uncooked lasagna noodles (about 5). Top the noodles with 1 1/2 cups of the ricotta mixture, spreading as evenly as possible. Evenly distribute half of the roasted veggies over the ricotta and top with 2 cups of the spinach. Add another 1 1/2 cups of marinara and another layer of noodles. Repeat with another 1 1/2 cups ricotta, the other half of the roasted vegetables, half of the mozzarella slices, the remaining 2 cups spinach, 1 1/2 cups of marinara, and then another layer of noodles. For the final layer, spread the remaining 1 1/2 cups ricotta, another layer of noodles, 1 1/2 cups of marinara, the remaining mozzarella slices, and then top with the remaining 1/2 cup of Parmesan.
• Bake for 1 hour covered with foil. Then remove the foil and bake until bubbly and beginning to brown, 20 to 25 minutes. Rest the lasagna 15 to 20 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.

LASAGNE ALLA BOLOGNESE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Butter the lasagne pan well and add a very thin layer of meat sauce.
• Add the first layer of lasagne noodles and in order, cover with meat sauce, about 3 ladles besciamella, and a generous sprinkle of Parmesan cheese. Repeat the same process until you reach the top of the dish. Make sure the lasagne noodles are soaking into the sauce.
• When done layering the ingredients, top the lasagne with a final ladle of meat sauce and some besciamella, add a few thin slices of butter and finish with some grated Parmesan.
• Bake for about 30 minutes.
• Heat a broiler. When your fantastic lasagne alla bolognese is cooked, give it a nice crisp top by broiling it for about 5 minutes.
• Always serve this dish with extra-virgin olive oil and some grated parmesan, to taste.
• Bolognese Sauce: Saute the onion, carrots, and celery in about 5 tablespoons olive oil in a large rondeau until soft. Add the pancetta to the soffritto (onion mixture). Cook on a medium-high flame for about 7 to 10 minutes, then add the meat; break it up well with a wooden spoon. You can jack up the heat a bit, and keep stirring until all the ground meat is browned. Add the red pepper flakes and the parsley and cook for just 1 minute. Add the wine now and cook until the alcohol is completely evaporated, scraping up the browned bits on the bottom of the pan.
• Pulse the tomatoes smooth in a food processor and add them to the meat, season generously with salt and pepper, lower the flame to medium and cook for about 2 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally. Finish the sauce by adding the whole milk, stir well and set aside, to cool off.
• Besciamella: Melt the 1/2 cup butter in a pan over medium heat. Stir in the flour with a wooden spoon. This is an important moment, as you have to slowly toast the flour without burning it. This will help you lose the flowery taste.
• Warm up the milk and gradually ladle into the pot with the butter-flour mixture, whisking constantly while bringing the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat, and simmer for about 15 minutes. Season the sauce with freshly grated nutmeg, salt, and pepper.

AUNT MAY'S LASAGNA

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, cook beef and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer; drain. Stir in tomatoes, tomato paste, basil, oregano, pepper and bay leaf. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer 40-50 minutes or until thickened., Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350°. cook noodles according to package directions; drain. Discard bay leaf from meat sauce. Stir in olives., Spread a fourth of the sauce in a greased 13x9-in. baking dish. Top with three noodles and a third of the mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. Repeat layers. Top with remaining noodles, sauce and cheese. , Bake, uncovered, 35-40 minutes or until bubbly. Let stand 15 minutes before cutting.

LASAGNA A LA AMANDA

Steps:

• Crumble sausage with casings removed in large skillet and cook until no pink remains.
• Drain sausage on paper towels.
• Crumble hamburger in same pan and cook until no pink remains and drain on paper towels.
• Cook onion and garlic in leftover grease from meats. and toss in meat and both jars of sauce.
• Stir together and let simmer while you assemble the pasta in pan.
• In 13 x 9 pan, place 3 noodles in bottom. Cover with sauce and cover with cheese. Repeat until you have 4 layers.
• Cover with remaining cheese and drizzle with olive oil and parsley.
• Cover and bake 30 minutes at 350°.
• Remove foil and bake 15 minutes until cheese is brown and bubbly.