The wait is over because the best lasagna recipe is here! Lasagna is ultimate comfort food and among one of the most loved foods. It is a great make ahead recipe for later use even when you have guests over but not much time to prepare something, just take out frozen lasagna and you are good to go. This is a classic recipe of lasagna with layers of beef sauce, lasagna noodles and cheese baked until golden brown with crispy top. With this meaty, cheesy and packed with flavor lasagna you will be able to feed a hungry crowd. This is the best lasagna recipe you will ever have.
Preparation time: 15 minutes Cook time: 90 minutes Total time: 1hr 45 minutes
Ingredients:
- 1 ½ pound ground beef
- 1 small onion, diced
- 1 bell pepper diced
- 2 minced garlic cloves
- 1 can tomato sauce
- 6 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 can crushed tomato
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoon fresh oregano chopped
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ tablespoon wine vinegar
- ¼ cup sugar
- Sal-to taste
- Lasagna noodles unbroken
- 425g ricotta cheese
- 24 ounces grated mozzarella cheese
- 4 ounces grated parmesan cheese
Instructions:
- Add water and salt in a large pot over high heat and bring the water to boil. Add dry lasagna noodles and cook to al dente. Stir often so the noodles do not stick. Drain in colander and rinse with cold water. Spread on baking sheet with olive oil coating so they do not stick.
- Meanwhile, put 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a skillet and heat. Add beef and cook until browned. Take out beef in a bowl and keep about a tablespoon of fat in skillet.
- Add onions and bell pepper to skillet and cook until onions are translucent then add parlic and cook for few seconds.
- Now add the ground beef to skillet, reduce heat and combine. Cook for 5 minutes.
- Transfer the beef mixture to a pot and tomato paste, tomato sauce and crushed tomatoes. Also add parsley, oregano, garlic powder and salt. Sprinkle vinegar and stir in sugar.
- Let the sauce simmer over low heat and cook for about 40 minutes, stirring occasionally. Then remove from heat.
- Preheat oven to 375F.
- To assemble the lasagna, take a lasagna dish and spread the sauce at its bottom. Arrange first layer of noodles lengthwise over sauce. Spread more sauce over the noodles. Use a ladle for spreading sauce.
- Sprinkle third of grated mozzarella on top of sauce. Now add half of ricotta cheese every couple inches. Also sprinkle half of parmesan evenly over ricotta cheese.
- Repeat the process and make a total of three layers.
- Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake in oven for 45 minutes.
- Let it cool for few minutes and serve.
Note: If you have leftovers, take airtight container and toss your baked lasagna into it.Put in refrigerator for up to three days. To freeze, wrap in foil completely and put infreezer.