When I was younger, I remember walking into my grandmother’s house every Thursday night smelling the freshly-baked homemade lasagna she always made. The recipe she would follow has been passed down from many generations in our family. It is one of my favorite meals to make, and it can be done in approximately an hour and thirty minutes.
The lasagna dish that my grandmother would make would begin with a sauce. First, she would cook beef until it was brown and crumbly. Once the beef was cooked, she would add garlic, onion, and tomato paste to the pan and mix it all together. After the vegetables were slightly cooked, she would add a can of crushed tomatoes and water to the mixture. Once everything was combined, she would let the sauce simmer for about an hour.
Next, she would begin layering the lasagna noodles, meat sauce, ricotta cheese mixture, and mozzarella cheese in a 9×13 inch baking dish. Once everything was layered, she would bake it in the oven at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for approximately 30 minutes.
The final result would be a hot and bubbly lasagna dish that the whole family would enjoy. This dish is always a hit at potlucks, parties, and family gatherings. It is the perfect meal to make when you want to impress your guests.
The key to making my family’s homemade lasagna is in the ingredients: if you start with high-quality items, your dish will turn out accordingly. This means that taking shortcuts—like using the cheap brands of each ingredient—won’t give you the best possible outcome.
The second step is to prepare the ingredients. This dish requires several different steps in order to come together, and if any of them are not done correctly, it can ruin the entire meal.
The third and final step is to bake the lasagna correctly. This is perhaps the most important step, as an overcooked or undercooked lasagna will not taste nearly as good as one that has been cooked to perfection.
Before you begin cooking, you will need to gather the following ingredients: one 16 oz. package of Barilla lasagna noodles, two pounds of the store’s fresh ground beef, one 24 oz. can of Prego Traditional tomato sauce, half a teaspoon of salt, two 16 oz. bags of Kraft mozzarella cheese, and one 16 oz. cup of Sargento ricotta cheese. Once you have all these items, put the ground beef, mozzarella cheese
The first step is to take the lasagna noodles and place them in boiling water. It is important to make sure that the water covers the entire noodle. After 12 minutes, use a fork to slightly separate the noodles so they do not stick together. Once this is done, drain the noodles in a colander.
The second step is to brown the ground beef over medium heat until it is no longer pink. Then, add salt and Prego sauce to the mixture and stir.
The third step is to begin layering the lasagna. Get a 9×13 inch baking dish and spread one cup of the meat sauce on the bottom. Next, place six noodles lengthwise over the sauce. Be sure to spread one cup of the ricotta cheese over the noodles and then sprinkle one-third of the mozzarella cheese on top.
The fourth step is to repeat step three, but this time layer the noodles crosswise.
The fifth and final step is to cover the pan with tinfoil, making sure that it does not touch the cheese because it will stick. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and bake for approximately 25 minutes. Then, remove the foil and bake for an additional 30 minutes or until the lasagna is lightly browned.
The next thing you’ll need to do is prepare the lasagna. Lasagna contains a few unique ingredients that each have distinct cooking times. For example, you shouldbeing by boiling water in order to cook the noodles soft; this will take around 8-10 minutes. Additionally, preheat your oven before adding any other ingredients so it’s ready when the dish is finished being prepared.
Now that you have boiling water and a preheated oven, it’s time to start layering your lasagna.
Start by spreading a thin layer of tomato sauce on the bottom of the pan. Then, add a layer of noodles, followed by another layer of sauce. Continue layering noodles, sauce, and cheese until you reach the top of the pan. Be sure to end with a layer of cheese on top!
Once your lasagna is assembled, cover it with foil and bake for approximately 30 minutes. After 30 minutes,remove the foil and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.