Zesty Lasagna Recipes

ZESTY LASAGNA (SOUTHERN LIVING)

Steps:

• Brown ground beef and garlic in a heavy skillet over medium heat until meat is browned, stirring to crumble meat, drain.
• Stir in the tomato paste, water, mushrooms, bay leaves, salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, and oregano.
• Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Remove the bay leaves.
• Cook noodles according to package directions and drain.
• Combine cottage cheese and sour cream in a medium bowl; stir well.
• Layer half each of noodles, meat sauce, and cottage cheese mixture in a greased 12 x 8 x 2 inch baking dish.
• Sprinkle with 3/4 cup mozzarella cheese.
• Repeat layers of noodles, meat sauce and cottage cheese mixture.
• Cover and bake at 350°F for 40 minutes.
• Top with the remaining mozzarella cheese and bake an additional 5 minutes or until cheese melts.
• Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.

THE BEST LASAGNA RECIPE BY TASTY

Steps:

• Make the meat sauce: In a large bowl, gently combine the ground sirloin, sausage, and prosciutto, being careful not to overmix. Shape into 5-6 large, shaggy meatballs.
• Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Working in batches, add the meatballs and brown on all sides, 1-2 minutes per side. Transfer to a rimmed baking sheet and repeat with the remaining meatballs.
• Reduce the heat to medium and add the onion. Season with salt and sauté until translucent, 5-7 minutes.
• Add the garlic, thyme, oregano, red pepper flakes, and fennel seeds. Sauté for 1 minute, until the garlic is fragrant.
• Add the tomato paste and cook, stirring frequently, until the color turns dark red, 3-4 minutes.
• Deglaze the pot with the red wine, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom, and cook until the liquid has almost evaporated, 1-2 minutes.
• Add the canned tomatoes, passata, carrot, butter, the browned meatballs, and 2 teaspoons of salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 1½-2 hours, until the sauce has thickened.
• Remove the sauce from the heat and discard the carrot, then use a potato masher to crush the meatballs into small pieces. Season the sauce with more salt to taste. If the sauce tastes too acidic, add the granulated sugar. Stir in the basil leaves and set aside.
• Make the béchamel sauce: Melt the butter in a large pot over medium heat. Once the butter starts to foam, add the flour. Cook, whisking constantly, for about 3 minutes, until no lumps remain but the roux has not yet browned. While whisking, slowly pour in the milk until evenly incorporated. Whisk in the salt, garlic powder, and nutmeg. Bring to a low simmer and cook, whisking often, until the sauce has thickened enough to coat the back of a spoon, 8-10 minutes. Remove the pot from the heat and stir in the Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese.
• Assemble the lasagna: Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9 x 13 x 3-inch baking dish with nonstick spray.
• Add no-boil lasagna noodles to a large baking dish or bowl. Cover with hot water and add the olive oil. Let sit for 5-10 minutes, until the noodles are a bit more pliable, but still snap when broken in half.
• Spread about ¾ cup of the meat sauce on the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Add a layer of lasagna noodles. Spread about 1 heaping cup of béchamel over noodles in an even layer. Top with 1 heaping cup of meat sauce, followed by ¼ cup fontina and ¼ cup grated mozzarella. Add another layer of noodles, arranging in the opposite direction as the first layer, and top with about 1 heaping cup of béchamel. Repeat to make 4 more layers, ending with a layer of lasagna noodles.
• Spread 1 cup of béchamel, then 1 cup of meat sauce over the noodles. Scatter the remaining ½ cup of fontina, the fresh mozzarella cheese, and grated Parmigiano-Reggiano on top. Reserve the remaining meat sauce for serving. Cover the baking dish with a sheet of foil (grease the underside with nonstick spray to prevent the cheese from sticking) and place on a rimmed baking sheet.
• Bake the lasagna for 30 minutes, then remove the foil and bake for another 25-30 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbling. Broil for 1-2 minutes, if desired, to brown the cheese. Remove from the oven and let the lasagna sit for at least 20 minutes to cool.
• Garnish the lasagna with the basil, then serve with the reserved meat sauce alongside.
• Enjoy!

QUICK'N ZESTY LASAGNA SKILLET

Steps:

• In a large skillet, brown meat with garlic, onion and bell pepper over medium heat until meat is browned. Drain if you need.
• Add spaghetti sauce, water and dressing. Bring to a boil.
• Stir in noodles, pushing them down and submerging them in the sauce. Bring back up to a simmer. Cover and reduce heat to medium-low. Cook 15-20 minutes, or until noodles are tender, stirring occasionally.
• Fold in ricotta and mozzarella. Let cheeses melt and then SERVE!
• ***I have now made some changes to this delicious recipe over the years -- I normally use half a pound of ground beef and half a pound of hot Italian sausage. I've actually totally eliminated the ricotta and just add dollops of a garlic and herb cream cheese spread over the top, then kind of swirl it in lightly so it stays creamy. Then I top the skillet at the very end with slices of fresh mozzarella instead of the shredded stuff in a bag and a fresh basil chiffonade. I cover it with a lid for a few minutes to melt the cheese.

SPICY ONE-SKILLET LASAGNA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• In a 12-inch high-sided skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the sausage and cook, breaking it into bite-size pieces with a wooden spoon, until cooked through and browned, about 7 minutes. Add the shallots and garlic and cook until translucent and slightly fragrant, another 3 minutes. Add the lemon zest and red pepper flakes and cook for additional 2 minutes to toast. Stir in the broccoli rabe and salt; cook until the rabe is wilted, 2 minutes. Remove the mixture to a medium bowl and return the pan to the stove over low heat.
• Spoon a small amount of the marinara sauce in the bottom of the skillet. Mix the remaining marinara with the sausage mixture in the bowl. Layer half of the lasagna noodles on top of the marinara, breaking them up as needed to fit the pan. Cover with half of the sausage mixture. Add 3/4 cup of the Parmesan and half the mozzarella. Layer with the remaining noodles. Cover with the remaining sausage mixture and top with the rest of the Parmesan and mozzarella and the Gruyere.
• Bake until bubbly and golden on top, about 40 minutes. Cool for 5 minutes before serving.

ZESTY RICE LASAGNA

Steps:

• 1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees
• 2. In large mixing bowl combine the Rice,1 Egg,1/3 Cup of the Parmesan Cheese,keep remaining for top of Lasagna
• 3. In seperate bowl combine 1 Egg,1 1/2 Cups of the Mozzerella Cheese,Ricotta Cheese,1/3 of Parmesan Cheese and the Parsley.
• 4. In a Large skillet brown the meat breaking into small pieces.Drain and add the Sauce,Oregano and heat the mixture.
• 5. Spray a 11 1/2x2 1/2 inch baking dish with non stick cooking spray
• 6. Evenly spread half the rice mixture into bottom of dish.Top with half of the cheese mixture and half of the meat mixture.Repeat the layers just as you would if making a regular lasagna.Sprinkle with the remaining Mozzerella and Parmesan Cheese.
• 7. Bake uncovered for 20-25 minutes