Classic Spinach Lasagna Food

CLASSIC LASAGNA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add the lasagna noodles and olive oil; cook until al dente, 8 to 10 minutes; drain.
• Cook the ground beef and sausage in a large pot over medium heat; drain. Stir in the mushrooms, garlic salt, oregano, thyme, basil, and tomato sauce. Season with salt and pepper; simmer 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, mix together the ricotta cheese, eggs, and Parmesan cheese in a bowl.
• Ladle enough of the meat sauce into a 9x13 inch baking dish to cover the bottom in a thin layer. Form a layer atop the sauce with 3 of the lasagna noodles. Spread about 1/4 of the ricotta cheese mixture over the noodles. Sprinkle about 1/3 of the mozzarella cheese over the ricotta cheese mixture and then ladle about 1/3 of the meat sauce over the mozzarella cheese. Repeat layering twice more, topping with the remaining 1/4 pound of mozzarella cheese.
• Bake in preheated oven 90 minutes. Allow to sit 10 to 15 minutes before serving.

CLASSIC LASAGNA

Steps:

• In large heavy pan lightly brown beef and onion in oil.
• Add tomatoes, paste, water, parsley, salt, sugar, garlic, pepper, and oregano; simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally about 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile cook lasagne as directed; drain.
• In 13x9x2" baking pan, spread about 1 cup sauce.
• Then alternate layers of lasagne, sauce, ricotta, mozzarella and parmesean cheese, ending with sauce, mozzarella and parmesean.
• Bake at 350 for 40 to 50 minutes until lightly browned and bubbling.
• Allow to stand for 15 minutes; cut in squares to serve.
• Makes 8 servings.
• I make this a lot and serve with Italian garlic bread and salad.
• It always gets a rave review, especially if the mozzarella strings with every bite.

CLASSIC LASAGNE

Steps:

• To make the meat sauce, heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a frying pan and cook 750g lean beef mince in two batches for about 10 mins until browned all over.
• Finely chop 4 slices of prosciutto from a 90g pack, then stir through the meat mixture.
• Pour over 800g passata or half our basic tomato sauce recipe and 200ml hot beef stock. Add a little grated nutmeg, then season.
• Bring up to the boil, then simmer for 30 mins until the sauce looks rich.
• Heat oven to 180C/fan/160C/gas 4 and lightly oil an ovenproof dish (about 30 x 20cm).
• Spoon one third of the meat sauce into the dish, then cover with some fresh lasagne sheets from a 300g pack. Drizzle over roughly 130g ready-made or homemade white sauce.
• Repeat until you have 3 layers of pasta. Cover with the remaining 390g white sauce, making sure you can't see any pasta poking through.
• Scatter 125g torn mozzarella over the top.
• Arrange the rest of the prosciutto on top. Bake for 45 mins until the top is bubbling and lightly browned.

SPINACH LASAGNA

Steps:

• Heat the EVOO in a saucepot and add the butter. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes. Add the tomatoes and crush them up a bit. Add the passata, a fat handful of torn basil leaves, the onion and some salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer and simmer for 40 to 45 minutes. Remove the onion and set the sauce aside.
• Separate the spinach while adding it to a mixing bowl. Add half of the mozzarella, the ricotta, 1 1/2 cups of the Parmigiano-Reggiano and the eggs yolks and mix to combine. Season with grated nutmeg, salt and pepper.
• Layer a little sauce into a lasagna pan and top with three flat lasagna sheets or four curly. Top with a little more sauce, and then half of the spinach and cheese mixture. Repeat with another layer, and end on top with lasagna sheets. Top with some sauce and the remaining mozzarella and Parmigiano-Reggiano.
• The lasagna can be stored before or after baking for a make-ahead meal, or baked to serve immediately. When baking the first time, bake at 375 degrees F, uncovered, from room temperature until cooked through and brown and bubbling on top, 60 to 70 minutes. If reheating, bake at 375 degrees F, covered, for 40 to 45 minutes.
• Let the lasagna rest 20 minutes before cutting. Serve with extra sauce on the side.

CLASSIC ITALIAN LASAGNA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• Bechamel sauce:
• In a 2-quart pot, melt 5 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. When butter has completely melted, add the flour and whisk until smooth, about 2 minutes. Gradually add the milk, whisking constantly to prevent any lumps from forming. Continue to simmer and whisk over medium heat until the sauce is thick, smooth and creamy, about 10 minutes. The sauce should be thick enough to coat the back of wooden spoon. Remove from heat and add the nutmeg and tomato sauce. Stir until well combined and check for seasoning. Set aside and allow to cool completely.
• In a saute pan, heat extra-virgin olive oil. When almost smoking, add the ground beef and season with salt and pepper. Brown meat, breaking any large lumps, until it is no longer pink. Remove from heat and drain any excess fat. Set aside and allow to cool completely.
• In a medium sized bowl, thoroughly mix the ricotta and eggs. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside.
• Into the bottom of a 13 by 9-inch baking dish, spread 1/3 of the bechamel sauce. Arrange the pasta sheets side by side, covering the bottom of the baking dish. Evenly spread a layer of all the ricotta mixture and then a layer of all the spinach. Arrange another layer of pasta sheets and spread all the ground beef on top. Sprinkle 1/2 the mozzarella cheese on top of the beef. Spread another 1/3 of the bechamel sauce. Arrange the final layer of pasta sheets and top with remaining bechamel, mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses. Cut the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter into 1/4-inch cubes and top lasagna.
• Line a large baking sheet with aluminum foil. Place lasagna dish on top, cover and put on the middle rack of the oven and bake until top is bubbling, about 30 minutes. Remove cover and continue to bake for about 15 minutes.
• In a large casserole pot or Dutch over, heat oil over medium high heat. Add onion and garlic and saute until soft and translucent, about 5 to 10 minutes. Add celery and carrots and season with salt and pepper. Saute until all the vegetables are soft, about 5 to 10 minutes. Add tomatoes and bay leaves and simmer uncovered on low heat for 1 hour or until thick. Remove bay leaves and check for seasoning. If sauce still tastes acidic, add unsalted butter, 1 tablespoon at a time to round out the flavors.
• Add 1/2 the tomato sauce into the bowl of a food processor. Process until smooth. Continue with remaining tomato sauce.
• If not using all the sauce, allow it to cool completely and pour 1 to 2 cup portions into freezer plastic bags. This will freeze up to 6 months.

EASY CLASSIC LASAGNA RECIPE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F.
• Brown meat in large skillet on medium heat; drain. Return meat to skillet. Add onions; cook 3 to 5 min. or until crisp-tender, stirring occasionally. Stir in pasta sauce; cover. Simmer on medium-low heat 15 min., stirring occasionally.
• Spread 1/3 of the pasta sauce mixture onto bottom of 13x9-inch baking dish sprayed with cooking spray; top with layers of 3 noodles, half the cottage cheese and 1/3 of the mozzarella. Repeat layers. Cover with remaining noodles, pasta sauce mixture and mozzarella; sprinkle with Parmesan.
• Bake 30 min. or until heated through. Remove from oven; let stand 10 min. before cutting to serve.

PERFECT SPINACH LASAGNA

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• Heat the oven to 350 F. Lightly grease a 9-by-13-by-2-inch baking dish or lasagna pan .
• In a medium bowl, combine the ricotta cheese with half of the drained and squeezed spinach, half of the grated Parmesan cheese, the egg, garlic powder, and salt. Mix to blend well.
• Mix the remaining half of the drained spinach with the marinara sauce .
• Spread about 1/2 to 1 cup of the marinara-spinach mixture over the bottom of the baking dish, just enough to coat the bottom.
• Top with a layer of noodles.
• Top the noodle layer with about 3/4 cup of the marinara; spread over the noodles.
• With a small spoon, put about one-third of the ricotta mixture over the sauce layer, spacing evenly in small dollops, then sprinkle with about one-quarter of the mozzarella cheese.
• Repeat, making two more layers of the noodles, sauce, ricotta mixture, and mozzarella.
• Top with another layer of noodles, the rest of the sauce, shredded mozzarella, and the remaining half of the grated Parmesan cheese.
• Grease a sheet of foil large enough to fit over the lasagna. Cover the lasagna tightly with the foil, greased side down. If your baking pan is very full, place a foil-lined baking sheet on a lower rack to catch spills.
• Bake the lasagna for about 45 minutes, or until very hot and you can see it is beginning to bubble.
• Remove the foil and bake for 20 to 30 minutes longer, until very hot and the cheese has melted.

CLASSIC SPINACH LASAGNA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• In a blender or food precessor, blend the tofu, milk, oregano, basil, salt, lemon juice, garlic, and onions together until it achieves the consistancy of cottage cheese.
• If the mixture is too thick, add a little water.
• Stir in the chopped spinach and set aside.
• Cover the bottom of lasagna pan with a thin layer of tomato sauce, then a layer of noodles.
• Sprinkle half of the tofu mixture and 1/2 cup of the optional cheese.
• Cover this with noodles and a layer of sauce.
• Add the remaining filling, 1/2 cup of cheese, and a layer of sauce.
• Add one more layer of noodles, and cover with sauce.
• Top with remaining cheese.
• Bake for 30-45 minutes.
• Remove from oven and let sit 10 minutes before serving.

CLASSIC LASAGNA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• In a large skillet, add olive oil, chopped onions and garlic. Saute for 3-4 minutes.
• Add ground beef and cook until completely browned, drain fat. Return to pan.
• Add tomato sauce, tomato paste, water, oregano, basil, salt and pepper.
• Bring to a boil over medium heat, reduce heat to low, cover and cook for approximately 20-25 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Cook pasta according to package directions for al dente, rinse and set aside.
• Lightly spray a 14 x 11½ x 2¼ baking dish (or two smaller size baking dishes) with a non stick spray then add a small amount of meat mixture in the bottom of dish. Spread around.
• Add lasagna noodles (approximately 5, they will overlap onto each other).
• Next, spread ½ of the cottage cheese on top of pasta.
• Spoon ⅓ meat mixture on top of cottage cheese.
• Sprinkle with ½ the Parmesan cheese.
• Next add ⅓ of the mozzarella cheese.
• Repeat with another layer of pasta, cottage cheese, meat mixture, Parmesan cheese, mozzarella cheese.
• Final layer is pasta, remaining meat mixture and remaining cheese.
• Spray a piece of aluminum foil with non-stick cooking spray. Cover with foil, cook for approximately 50-60 minutes. Remove foil and cook for an additional 10 minutes.

CLASSIC LASAGNA WITH BéCHAMEL

Steps:

• Heat olive oil & butter in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the onion, carrots & celery and sauté until the onion is translucent about 5 minutes.
• Next, add in the 2 teaspoons of salt & minced garlic and cook for 1-2 more minutes. Add the ground turkey (or meat of choice) and cook for 10 minutes, until browned, crumbling and stirring occasionally.
• Pour in red wine (optional), deglaze the bottom of the pot & allow to cook for 4-5 minutes. Add the can of crushed tomatoes, salt, pepper, thyme & basil and stir to combine everything.
• Bring the sauce to a boil, cover, turn the heat down to medium-low & simmer for 45 minutes.
• Once the bolognese is done, cook lasagna noodles (if they need to be pre-boiled) according to package directions
• Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Once melted, whisk in the flour and cook for 2-3 minutes until it turns a light golden color. Slowly pour in the milk while whisking.
• Bring the sauce to a simmer and whisk regularly until it thickens, about 10 minutes.
• Turn off the heat and season with salt, pepper, garlic powder and nutmeg & then stir in parmesan cheese.
• Preheat the oven to 375° F. Using a 13x9 inch baking pan, spoon a thin layer (about 1/4-1/3 cup) of bolognese on the bottom of the pan.
• Add a layer of lasagna noodles. Spread a layer of the bolognese over the layer of noodles, then add a layer of béchamel (approximately 1/3 cup). Sprinkle about 2 tablespoons of parmesan cheese on top.
• Repeat the layers two to three more times until you run out of noodles. Layer the top layer of lasagna noodles with the last of the béchamel sauce, remaining parmesan cheese and 1/2 cup of mozzarella cheese.
• Bake uncovered for 45 minutes until golden and cheese is slightly bubbling. Let rest for at least 30 minutes and enjoy!

CLASSIC SPINACH LASAGNA

Steps:

• 1. TO MAKE THE MEAT SAUCE: Put the dried mushrooms in a bowl and pour 1 cup boiling water over them.
• 2. Let them sit for 30 minutes, then drain, reserving the water.
• 3. Rinse the mushroom pieces thoroughly, chop them fine, and rinse again to remove all traces of grit.
• 4. Line a sieve with a dampened paper towel and strain the mushroom-soaking liquid into a small bowl.
• 5. Heat the olive oil in a large non-reactive skillet.
• 6. Add the pancetta and onion and saute over low heat 5 minutes.
• 7. Raise heat to medium, crumble in the ground beef, and add 1/4 teaspoon of salt and several grindings of fresh pepper.
• 8. Saute 5 more minutes, stirring to break up the meat.
• 9. Add the chopped chicken livers and the chopped porcini.
• 10. In a measuring cup, combine 1/2 cup of the mushroom-soaking liquid and 1/2 cup hot water.
• 11. Dissolve the tomato paste in this liquid and add it to the skillet.
• 12. Bring to a simmer, cover the pan and cook 1 hour, stirring occasionally and regulating the heat to maintain a gentle simmer.
• 13. TO MAKE THE SPINACH FILLING: If you are using fresh spinach, wash it carefully, and place it in a large pot with only the amount of water that clings to the leaves.
• 14. Sprinkle lightly with salt, cover the pot and turn heat to high.
• 15. As soon as the spinach wilts, reduce heat to medium and cook 5 minutes. (If using frozen spinach, cook according to package directions.)
• 16. Drain the spinach in a colander, spray with cold water, squeeze out most of the water, and chop it fine.
• 17. Put it into a bowl and add the ricotta, the egg, 1/4 teaspoon of salt and several gratings of fresh nutmeg.
• 18. Stir all together well.
• 19. COOKING THE LASAGNA: Bring a large pot of salted water to the boil.
• 20. Fill a large bowl with ice water.
• 21. Lay out several clean dish towels on a work surface.
• 22. Drop the lasagna noodles a few at a time into the boiling water and cook 1 minute.
• 23. Drain them with a slotted spoon, dip them into the bowl of ice water to stop the cooking, and lay them out on the dish towels while you cook the rest.
• 24. ASSEMBLY AND BAKING: Preheat oven to 400.
• 25. Butter a 10-by-14-inch baking dish with 1/2 tablespoon butter.
• 26. Cover the bottom of the dish with a layer of lasagna noodles. (Use about a quarter of them.)
• 27. Spread 1/4 of the spinach-ricotta mixture over the surface.
• 28. Sprinkle on 1/4 of the parmigiano, then 1/4 of the meat sauce.
• 29. Make 3 more layers in the same way, ending with the cheese and meat sauce.
• 30. Finally, dot the top with the remaining tablespoon of butter.
• 31. Bake 15 minutes, or until the sauce is bubbling hot.
• 32. Remove from the oven and let sit for 10 minutes before serving.