Beef Lasagna Barefoot Contessa Food

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.

BAREFOOT CONTESSA'S LASAGNA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Heat the olive oil in a large (10 to 12-inch) skillet. Add the onion and cook for 5 minutes over medium-low heat, until translucent. Add the garlic and cook for 1 more minute. Add the sausage and cook over medium-low heat, breaking it up with a fork, for 8 to 10 minutes, or until no longer pink. Add the tomatoes, tomato paste, 2 tablespoons of the parsley, the basil, 1½ teaspoons of the salt, and ½ teaspoon pepper. Simmer, uncovered, over medium-low heat, for 25-30 minutes, until thickened and tomatoes have reached desired taste.
• Meanwhile, fill a large bowl with the hottest tap water. Add the noodles and allow them to sit in the water for 20 minutes. Drain.
• In a medium bowl, combine the ricotta, goat cheese, 1 cup of Parmesan, the egg, the remaining 2 tablespoons of parsley, remaining ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Set aside.
• Ladle 1/3 of the sauce into a 9 by 12 by 2-inch rectangular baking dish, spreading the sauce over the bottom of the dish. Then add the layers as follows: half the pasta, half the mozzarella, half the ricotta, and one 1/3 of the sauce. Add the rest of the pasta, mozzarella, ricotta, and finally, sauce. Sprinkle with ¼ cup of Parmesan.
• Bake for 30 minutes, until the sauce is bubbling.

TURKEY LASAGNA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Heat the olive oil in a large (10 to 12-inch) skillet. Add the onion and cook for 5 minutes over medium-low heat, until translucent. Add the garlic and cook for 1 more minute. Add the sausage and cook over medium-low heat, breaking it up with a fork, for 8 to 10 minutes, or until no longer pink. Add the tomatoes, tomato paste, 2 tablespoons of the parsley, the basil, 1 1/2 teaspoons of the salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Simmer, uncovered, over medium-low heat, for 15 to 20 minutes, until thickened.
• Meanwhile, fill a large bowl with the hottest tap water. Add the noodles and allow them to sit in the water for 20 minutes. Drain.
• In a medium bowl, combine the ricotta, goat cheese, 1 cup of Parmesan, the egg, the remaining 2 tablespoons of parsley, remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Set aside.
• Ladle 1/3 of the sauce into a 9 by 12 by 2-inch rectangular baking dish, spreading the sauce over the bottom of the dish. Then add the layers as follows: half the pasta, half the mozzarella, half the ricotta, and one 1/3 of the sauce. Add the rest of the pasta, mozzarella, ricotta, and finally, sauce. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup of Parmesan. Bake for 30 minutes, until the sauce is bubbling.

BETTER BEEF LASAGNA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Cook the noodles al dente according to the directions on the package. Drain them well then lay out on waxed paper to prevent them from sticking to each other.
• Heat a large nonstick skillet over a medium-high heat. Add the beef and cook until no longer pink, breaking it up into small pieces as it cooks, about 3 minutes. Transfer the meat to a plate, discarding any fat remaining in the pan.
• Add the oil to the same pan and heat over a medium-high heat. Add the mushrooms and cook, stirring occasionally until all the liquid has evaporated and they begin to brown, about 5 minutes. Return the meat to the pan. Stir in 2 cups of the tomato sauce and simmer for 2 minutes.
• In a medium bowl combine the ricotta cheese, spinach, egg, the salt, the pepper and nutmeg.
• Spread 1 cup of tomato sauce on the bottom of a 9 by 13 inch baking dish. Place a layer of lasagna noodles on top, touching but not overlapping. Spread half of the ricotta mixture on top of the noodles. Add another layer of noodles. Top with half the beef-mushroom mixture. Repeat with another layer of noodles, then remaining cheese mixture, more noodles, then remaining beef mixture and finally 1 more layer of noodles. Top the final layer of noodles with the remaining sauce, then sprinkle with the grated cheeses. Cover loosely with foil and bake for 45 minutes. Uncover and bake for 15 minutes more.
• Excellent source of: Protein, Fiber, Vitamin A, Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin, Vitamin B12, Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron, Phosphorus, Potassium, Selenium, Zinc
• Good source of: Folate, Copper, Magnesium

LASAGNE - BAREFOOT CONTESSA'S RECIPE RECIPE - (3.5/5)

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400°F Heat the olive oil in a large skillet. Add onion and cook for 5 minutes over medium-low heat, until translucent. Add garlic and cook for 1 more minute. Add sausage and cook over medium-low heat, breaking it up with a fork, for 8 to 10 minutes, or until no longer pink. Add the tomatoes, tomato paste, 2 tablespoons of the parsley, basil, oregano, 1 1/2 teaspoons of the salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Simmer, uncovered, over medium-low heat, for 15 to 20 minutes, until thickened. Meanwhile, fill a large bowl with the hottest tap water. Add the noodles and allow them to sit in the water for 20 minutes. Drain. Cook the spinach and then drain thoroughly and squeeze out all moisture with towels. In a medium bowl, combine the ricotta, goat cheese, spinach, 1 cup of Parmesan, the egg, the remaining 2 tablespoons of parsley, remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Set aside. Ladle a little of the sauce into a 9 by 12 rectangular baking dish, spreading the sauce over the bottom of the dish. Then add 3 layers as follows: pasta, mozzarella, ricotta, and sauce. Finish with sauce. (You might not use all of the noodles) Sprinkle with 1/4 cup of Parmesan. Bake for 30-45 minutes, until the top is bubbling. Let stand about 5-10 minutes before serving.

BAREFOOT CONTESSA'S PORTABELLA MUSHROOM LASAGNA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil with 1 T salt and a splash of oil.
• Add the lasagna noodles and cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally; drain and set aside.
• For the white sauce, bring the milk to a simmer in a saucepan; set aside.
• Melt 8 T (1 stick) of the butter in large saucepan.
• Add the flour and cook for 1 minute over low heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon.
• Pour the hot milk into the butter-flour mixture all at once.
• Add 1 T salt, the pepper and nutmeg, and cook over medium-low heat, stirring first with the wooden spoon and then with a whisk, for 3-5 minutes, until thick.
• Set aside off the heat.
• Separate the mushroom stems from the caps and discard the stems.
• Slice the caps 1/4-inch thick.
• Heat 2 T of oil and 2 T of the butter in a large (12-inch) saute pan.
• When the butter melts, add half the mushrooms, sprinkle with salt, and cook over medium heat for about 5 minutes, until the mushrooms are tender and they release some of their juices.
• If they become too dry, add a little more oil.
• Toss occasionally to make sure the mushrooms cook evenly.
• Repeat with the remaining mushrooms and set all the mushrooms aside.
• To assemble the lasagna, spread some of the sauce in the bottom of an 8x12x2-inch baking dish.
• Arrange a layer of noodles on top, then more sauce, then one-third of the mushrooms, and 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese.
• Repeat two more times, layering noodles, sauce, mushrooms and Parmesan.
• Top with a final layer of noodles and sauce, and sprinkle with the remaining Parmesan.
• Bake, uncovered, for 45 minutes, or until the top is browned and the sauce is bubbly and hot.
• Allow to sit at room temperature for 15 minutes and serve hot.

LASAGNA WITH GOAT CHEESE FROM INA GARTEN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Heat the olive oil in a large (10 to 12-inch) skillet. Add the onion and cook for 5 minutes over medium-low heat, until translucent.
• Add the garlic and cook for 1 more minute.
• Add the sausage and cook over medium-low heat, breaking it up with a fork, for 8 to 10 minutes, or until no longer pink.
• Add the Jar of Ragu Sundried Tomato & Sweet Basil Pasta Sauce Simmer, uncovered, over medium-low heat, for 15 to 20 minutes, until thickened.
• In a medium bowl, combine the ricotta, goat cheese, 1 cup of Parmesan, the egg, the remaining 2 tablespoons of parsley, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Set aside.
• Ladle 1/3 of the sauce into a 9 by 12 by 2-inch rectangular baking dish, spreading the sauce over the bottom of the dish. Then add the layers as follows: half the pasta, half the mozzarella, half the ricotta, and one third of the sauce. Add the rest of the pasta, mozzarella, ricotta, and finally, sauce. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup of Parmesan. Bake for 30 minutes, until the sauce is bubbling.

BEEF LASAGNA

Steps:

• Meat Sauce: Heat the oil in a large fry pan over a medium heat.
• Add the onion and bacon and cook until the onion is golden and tender.
• Add the minced garlic and cook a couple of minutes more.
• Add the mince and cook, breaking up with a fork, until the meat has all changed colour.
• Now add the tomato paste and "cook it out" for another minute or two before adding the wine.
• Allow the wine to reduce a little, before adding the remaining sauce ingredients.
• Simmer until reduced and thickened and a deep rich red/ brown.
• *You could call this"cooked" in 30 minutes, but I like to let it simmer about 2 hours, stirring regularly to make sure it's not catching.
• Add a little more broth or water if it looks like doing so.
• Cheese Sauce:.
• Melt the butter, add the flour and stir well.
• Allow to cook gently for about 2 minutes, then add the milk all in one go, and whisk briskly until heated and thickened.
• Allow to cook a couple of minutes more on a simmer.
• Add the cheese and season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Assembly of the lasagna:.
• Spread a little of the beef sauce across the bottom of your pan.
• Cover with a layer of beef sauce and drizzle about half a cup of cheese sauce over this-no need to be too particular.
• Cover with a layer of lasagna sheets.
• Repeat the beef sauce and cheese sauce two more times, then a final layer of sheets.
• Spread the remaining cheese sauce (there should be about 1 cup) over the last layer of sheets, and sprinkle with the shredded parmesan cheese.
• Bake in a moderate oven for about 1 hour.
• Allow to stand about 15 minutes before cutting into squares to serve.