Melissas Lasagna Recipes

DECONSTRUCTED LASAGNA

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the lasagna noodles and cook according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain in a colander and set aside.
• To a large, deep skillet or pot set over medium heat add the olive oil, onion, garlic, 1 teaspoon of the salt, and the black pepper, and cook until the onion is soft and sticky, -stirring often, for 6 to 7 minutes. Stir in the marjoram and red pepper flakes, and once they are fragrant, after 30 seconds, stir in the beef, using a wooden spoon to break it into small pieces. Cook, stirring often, until the beef is no longer pink, about 5 minutes.
• Add the chopped tomatoes and remaining 1 teaspoon salt, reduce the heat to medium-low, and simmer the sauce until it reduces slightly, about 10 minutes.
• Divide half of the cooked lasagna noodles among 4 bowls. Top each with some mozzarella and sauce, then divide the remaining noodles over the top. Add some more mozzarella and sauce, and serve sprinkled with Parmesan cheese.
• Per serving: Calories 567; Total Fat 18g; Protein 31g; Dietary Fiber 5g; Sugars 8g

EASY CHEESY LASAGNA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375°F. Spray a 13 x 9 inch baking dish with cooking spray.
• To make the sauce: On the stove top in a deep pot over medium-high heat cook beef, sausage and onion in a couple of drizzles of olive oil until no pink remains Season with salt and 1 tsp black pepper.. Drain excess fat from pot.
• To the pot add garlic, 1 Tbsp Italian seasoning and bay leaf. Cook for 1 minute.
• Add pasta sauce, tomato sauce and basil. Simmer for 15 minutes then remove from the heat. Remove bay leaf from the sauce.
• Meanwhile, in a small mixing bowl mix together ricotta, eggs, 1/3 cup shredded Parmesan, and remaining 1 tsp dry Italian seasoning. Add 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper.
• To assemble: Ladle 1/2 cup sauce into the bottom of the prepared dish. Arrange one layer of lasagna noodles over sauce.
• Spread noodles with 1/3 of the ricotta. Cover with 1/3 meat sauce then sprinkle with 1 cup mozzarella cheese.
• Repeat layers, ending with noodles, meat sauce and 1 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese. Sprinkle the remaining Parmesan on top.
• Cover with aluminum foil spritzed with cooking spray. Bake covered for 1 hour.
• Uncover, and bake for an additional 15 minutes or until the noodles are fork tender.
• Let stand on counter for 10 minutes then cut and serving.

BEEF AND BECHAMEL LASAGNA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• For the meat sauce: In a large saucepan or small Dutch oven, cook the bacon over medium-high heat until nearly crisp, about 5 minutes. Add the onions and carrots, season with salt and pepper, and cook until softened, another 3 minutes. Add the garlic and cook another minute. Add the ground beef and cook until the beef is no longer pink, 6 to 7 minutes. Deglaze the pan with the wine and add the marinara sauce and cinnamon. Fill the jar one-quarter full with water, swish it around to pick up any sauce left behind, and add it to the pot. Remove from the heat and set aside.
• For the bechamel sauce: Heat the milk in the microwave for 2 minutes. In a large saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter, and then whisk in the flour. Cook, whisking constantly, for 2 minutes. Whisk in the warm milk and cook until thickened, whisking frequently, about 10 minutes. Add the nutmeg, garlic, salt, and pepper and set aside.
• For the cottage cheese layer: In a blender or food processor, add the cottage cheese, egg, and Parmesan, and pulse until the cottage cheese curds are small (the mixture will resemble ricotta). Season with salt and pepper and set aside.
• To assemble: Spray a 9 by 13-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Spread 1/4 cup water plus 1/4 cup meat sauce in the bottom of the pan. Lay 3 noodles crossways in the pan. Divide the cottage cheese mixture in half. Divide the remaining meat sauce in thirds. Divide the grated cheese into fourths. Divide the bechamel into thirds. Add the layers in the following order: cottage cheese, meat sauce, grated cheese, and bechamel. Then, add another layer of noodles, cottage cheese, meat sauce, grated cheese, and bechamel. Finally, add the remaining 3 noodles, meat sauce, grated cheese, and bechamel. Spray a large piece of foil with cooking spray and cover the lasagna tightly. Bake for 50 minutes. Remove the foil and top with the remaining grated cheese and cook an additional 10 minutes, or until the lasagna is bubbling. Allow the lasagna to rest 15 minutes before cutting into squares and serving.

MATZO LASAGNA

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375 degrees. In a large pot over medium, heat oil, and stir in garlic, anchovies (if using), pepper and red-pepper flakes. Cook until garlic starts to brown, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Use your hands to squeeze and crush the whole tomatoes as you add them to the pot, along with any liquid in the cans (or use kitchen shears to cut the tomatoes in the can). Stir in 1/2 teaspoon salt and rosemary sprig, bring to a gentle simmer, and simmer at medium-low heat for 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, stir together ricotta, egg, basil, pepper, remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and nutmeg.
• To assemble the lasagna, spread generous 1/2 cup sauce on the bottom of a 9-by-13 baking dish. Place matzo crackers in an even layer on top, breaking crackers to fit as necessary.
• Spread half the ricotta mixture over the matzo layer, spreading all the way to the edges. Top with generous 3/4 cup tomato sauce, then scatter with 1/3 of the mozzarella.
• Repeat matzo, ricotta, tomato sauce, and mozzarella layers.
• Top with a final layer of matzo, then spread remaining tomato sauce (about 2 cups) on top, making sure all of the matzo is covered. Top with remaining mozzarella and 1/2 cup Parmesan.
• Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove foil and continue to bake until cheese is golden and sauce is bubbly, about 20 to 25 minutes longer. Remove from oven and let cool for 5 to 10 minutes, then serve topped with more basil, a drizzle of olive oil and more red-pepper flakes, if you like.

LASAGNA

Steps:

• For the sauce, heat 1/2 cup oil in a large heavy Dutch oven or kettle over low heat. Add the onions, minced garlic and pancetta, and cook, stirring, for 10 minutes, until the onions are wilted. Season liberally with salt and pepper. Raise heat slightly, add the wine and cook until it is mostly reduced, about 20 minutes. Crush the tomatoes into the pan, and add their juice. Add the tomato paste and 2 cups lukewarm water. Simmer for 1 hour.
• Combine the sirloin, cheese and eggs in a large bowl. Chop the parsley with the whole garlic until fine, then stir into the beef mixture. Season lavishly with salt and pepper. Using your hands, mix until all the ingredients are well blended. Shape into meatballs and set aside.
• Heat the remaining oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Dust the meatballs lightly with flour, shaking off excess, and lay into the hot oil. Brown the meatballs on all sides (do not cook through) and transfer to the sauce.
• In a clean skillet, brown the sausages over medium-high heat. Transfer to the sauce. Simmer 1 1/2 hours.
• Heat the oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, combine the ricotta, eggs, pecorino Romano, parsley and all but 1 cup of the mozzarella. Season well with salt and pepper. Mix thoroughly.
• Remove the meatballs and sausage from the sauce, and set aside to cool slightly, then chop coarsely. Spoon a thick layer of sauce into the bottom of a 9-by-12-inch lasagna pan. Cover with a layer of noodles. Spoon more sauce on top, then add a third of the meat and a third of the cheese mixture. Repeat for 2 more layers, using all the meat and cheese. Top with a layer of noodles, and cover with the remaining sauce. Sprinkle reserved mozzarella evenly over the top. Bake 30 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

LISA'S LASAGNE

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large saucepan. Add the onions and saute for 3 minutes. Add the peppers and saute for 2 minutes. Add the zucchini and saute 3 minutes before adding the tomatoes, tomato paste, garlic and oregano, basil, thyme, salt and pepper. Cover the saucepan and simmer for 20 to 30 minutes (the longer the better as long as the sauce is not sticky.)
• Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F (95 degrees C). Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
• While the sauce cooks, melt 2 tablespoons butter in a saucepan. Add the flour into the butter, stir vigorously for 2 minutes. Gradually add the milk, stirring until the sauce thickens. Stir in the cheese, reserving as much as you will want to sprinkle on top of the lasagna. Stir the cheese into the flour and butter mixture until it has melted completely. Season with nutmeg, salt, and pepper.
• Soak the lasagna noodles in water for 30 seconds.
• Cover the bottom of the prepared dish with some of the tomato sauce, followed by a layer of the lasagna sheet, and the cheese sauce. Continue layering these ingredients ending with a layer of cheese sauce. Sprinkle the final layer of cheese sauce with nutmeg, salt, pepper, and the reserved cheese.
• Bake the lasagna 40 to 50 minutes, until the top of the lasagna is golden brown.

MELISSA'S EASY LASAGNA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F
• Cook noodles according to directions on package.
• In small bowl, combine beaten eggs and cottage cheese.
• Add 1 1/2 jars of sauce to cooked ground beef.
• Add garlic salt.
• Stir and simmer 5 minutes.
• Set aside.
• Spread 3/4 cup sauce on bottom of baking dish.
• Place 3-4 noodles over the bottom, slightly overlapping.
• Spread 1 tablespoon of the egg/cottage cheese mixture over each noodle.
• Add 1 tablespoon meat/sauce mixture over each noodle.
• Sprinkle Parmesan cheese and then mozzarella.
• Repeat layers.
• Cover last layer with remaining noodles and sauce.
• Sprinkle with remaining mozzarella cheese.
• Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes.
• Remove foil and bake an additional 10 minutes.
• Let cool 10 minutes before serving.

MELISSA'S LASAGNA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F. Cook the ground beef until no longer pink. Drain well, and then pat with paper towels to absorb further grease. Combine the ground beef and the spaghetti sauce in a bowl; set aside.
• Blend the cottage cheese, beaten eggs, salt, pepper, parsley flakes, and parmesan cheese in another bowl; set aside.
• In a deep baking dish (approx. 10x7x3), lightly cover the bottom with the meat sauce (about 1 cup). Place 3-4 lasagna noodles over the sauce, depending on how many will fit. Spread half of the cheese mixture on the noodles and cover with half of the sliced mozzarella cheese, spaced evenly across the cheese mixture. Spread half of the meat sauce over the sliced cheese. Repeat layers, ending with the meat sauce.
• Bake in preheated oven for at least 1-1/4 hours, or until the lasagna is bubbling all over. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

LISA'S LASAGNA

Steps:

• Brown meat with onions and bell peppers, and season to taste. Add tomato paste and water. Let simmer.
• In a mixing bowl, mix ricotta cheese with beaten egg. Set aside.
• Preheat oven to 370 degrees F (190 degrees C). Butter a 9 x 13 inch baking dish.
• Begin layering all ingredients beginning with a few spoonfuls of tomato sauce. Follow with noodles, then ricotta mixture, and shredded mozzarella. Repeat until dish is filled.
• Bake at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) about 35 to 45 minutes, until bubbly. Let cool a couple of minutes before cutting.