Zesty Lasagna Recipes

THE MOST AMAZING LASAGNA RECIPE

Steps:

• In a large pot over medium heat, add in ground sausage and ground beef. Use a spoon to break up the meat into small pieces. Add in onion and garlic and cook until meat is well browned, stirring constantly. Stir in sugar, fresh basil, fennel, oregano, 1/2 teaspoon salt, pepper, and 1/4 cup chopped parsley. Pour in crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, tomato sauce, and wine*. Stir well and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to low and simmer 1-4 hours, stirring occasionally.
• Meanwhile, place lasagna noodles into the bottom of a pan. Pour hot tap water directly over the noodles, making sure the pasta is completely immersed in the water. Let them soak for 30 minutes, then drain and discard water.
• In a mixing bowl, combine ricotta cheese with egg, remaining 2 tablespoons parsley, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and nutmeg. Refrigerate until ready to assemble lasagna.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Lightly grease a deep 9x13 pan.
• To assemble, spread about 1 cup of meat sauce in the bottom of the prepared pan. Place 4 noodles on top. Spread with 1/3 of the ricotta cheese mixture. Top with 1/4 of mozzarella cheese slices. Spoon 1 1/2 cups meat sauce over mozzarella, then sprinkle with 1/4 cup parmesan cheese. Repeat layering two more times to create three complete layers. To finish, place a final layer of pasta, topped with another 1 cup of meat sauce to cover the pasta. Top with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. Cover loosely with aluminum foil.
• Bake in preheated oven for 25 minutes. Remove foil, and bake an additional 25 minutes to allow cheese to brown. Serve hot.

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.

ZESTY LASAGNA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°.
• In large, heavy, nonstick pot brown ground beef, then drain it in colander and rinse off the fat with hot water. Return it to the pot.
• Grind Polish sausage in food processor, add it to the skillet with the beef.
• Stir in the tomato puree, spaghetti sauce mix, and the salt. Let simmer while you --
• Cook lasagna noodles according to package directions, separate and lay on wax paper.
• In separate bowl combine cottage cheese, eggs, Parmesan cheese and Mozzarella cheese. (Reserve 1/2 cup of mozzarella cheese.).
• Spray a large jelly roll pan with cooking spray.
• In the jellyroll pan, begin layering the ingredients with noodles, then meat sauce, then cheese mixture until you've used all the ingredients.
• Be sure to end the layering with meat layer on top.
• Sprinkle with reserved 1/2 cup of mazzarella cheese.
• Cover loosely with foil, do not let it rest on the cheese.
• Bake at 350° for 45 minutes.

SPICY LASAGNA

Steps:

• In skillet cook sausage, onion, celery and carrot until meat is lightly browned.
• Drain off excess fat and stir in tomatoes, tomato paste, salt, oregano and first 1/4 tsp pepper.
• Simmer, uncovered, 30 minutes stirring occasionally.
• Cook lasagna according to package directions and drain well.
• In a small bowl combine cottage cheese, parmesan cheese, eggs, parsley and the remaining pepper.
• Place half the noodles in a greased 13 x 9 baking dish.
• Spread with half the cheese filling and half the meat sauce. Top with half the mozzarella.
• Repeat layer.
• Bake uncovered in 375 degree oven for 30 minutes.
• Let stand 10 to 15 minutes before serving.

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.

HOT 'N' SPICY LASAGNE

Steps:

• Heat up some oil in a large frying pan and fry bacon lardons until crisp. Reduce the heat slightly and add the onions, celery, carrots, pepper and garlic, and fry for about 10 minutes until the vegetables have softened.
• Increase the heat again and add the mince. Fry until the mince has browned all over, stirring continuously.
• Pour in the tinned tomatoes, add the bay leaves, mixed herbs, stock cube, wine and cherry tomatoes. Mix well and stir in the chopped chillies, including seeds, and mix everything together.
• Bring to a gentle boil and reduce heat. Cover and leave to cook for around an hour or so, until thickened, stirring occasionally.
• While the bolognese is cooking, pour milk into a saucepan. Pierce each onion halve with 2 cloves. Place the onion and bay leaves in the saucepan and bring to the boil. Once boiling, remove from heat and allow to infuse for 20-25 minutes.
• In another pan, melt the butter and stir in the flour. Continually stir until a paste forms. This is called a roux. Cook this for around 2 minutes.
• After the milk has been infusing for 20-25 minutes, remove the onion and bay leaves. Slowly add the milk to the roux, continuously stirring. Cook for around 10 minutes until the white sauce thickens.
• In a lasagne dish, layer up the lasagne with a layer of the bolognese followed with the pasta sheets, top with white sauce and more pasta sheets. Again, to with a layer or bolognese, pasta sheets, white sauce, pasta sheets. Finish with a final layer of the bolognese, pasta sheets, white sauce and top with the grates cheese.
• Place lasagne on the centre shelf of the oven, pre heated to 185°C, and bake for 30 minutes.
• Dish the lasagne up and serve with a side salad.

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.