Mama Zuquinis Lamb Lasagna Food

LAMB LASAGNE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 130C/110C fan/gas 1. Heat the oil in a casserole dish. Season the lamb generously, then sizzle for 5 mins until nicely browned. Add the garlic and rosemary and cook for a minute more, then pour over the passata. Rinse out the passata carton with a splash of water, then pour that in too. Season, then bring to a simmer. Cover tightly with foil, top with the lid, then cook in the oven for at least 3½ hrs or up to 4 hrs, until the lamb is shreddable. Leave the lamb to cool slightly, then use two forks to shred it into the sauce. Will keep in the fridge for two days, or in the freezer for 6 months.
• To make the béchamel, heat the milk in a saucepan until just simmering. In a separate pan, melt the butter, then add the flour and stir to make a sandy paste. Slowly whisk in the hot milk until combined and you have a glossy white sauce. Stir in half the parmesan and season. Meanwhile, soak the lasagne sheets in just-boiled water to soften, then drain.
• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Spread a thin layer of the lamb sauce over the base of a small lasagne dish, then top with a layer of pasta, followed by a third of the béchamel and a third of the mozzarella. Add a second layer of lamb, then again top with pasta, then béchamel, then mozzarella. Add a final layer of pasta, then top with the rest of the béchamel, the last of the mozzarella, the remaining parmesan and the panko breadcrumbs. Bake the lasagne for 35 mins, then turn the oven up to 190C/170C fan/gas 5. Bake for 10 mins more to crisp up the top, then leave to rest for 10 mins before serving straight from the dish with a few dressed chicory leaves, if you like.

ZUCCHINI, TOMATO, AND LAMB LASAGNA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Brush two rimmed baking sheets with oil. Divide zucchini between sheets; arrange in a single layer, turning once to coat. Season with salt and pepper; roast until softened, 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high. Add onion and cook until softened, 8 minutes. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, 30 seconds. Add lamb and cook, breaking up meat with a spoon, until browned, 6 minutes. With a slotted spoon, transfer lamb to paper towels to drain and pour off fat from skillet. Return lamb to skillet; add tomato paste, tomatoes, and oregano. Stir to combine. Cook until tomato liquid is almost evaporated, 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
• Reduce oven to 400 degrees. Spoon half the lamb mixture into an 8-inch square baking dish. Top with half the zucchini slices, overlapping to fit. Repeat layering with remaining lamb mixture and zucchini. Spread ricotta over top; sprinkle with Parmesan. Bake until sauce is bubbling and cheese is browned in spots, 20 to 30 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes before serving.

LAZY LASAGNA WITH LAMB RAGU, SPINACH AND RICOTTA

Steps:

• For the ragu: Heat 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. When the oil smokes, pat the ground lamb dry and add to pan, brown to caramelize the meat, season with rosemary, marjoram, cloves, salt, and pepper. Once the meat has browned, add the onion, carrot, garlic and cook to soften 10 minutes more, stirring frequently. Stir in tomato paste, cook 1 minute or until fragrant. Stir in stock then wine, reduce heat to low and gently simmer.
• In salted boiling water, undercook the pasta by 2 minutes from package directions. Reserve a cup of starchy pasta liquid.
• Meanwhile, heat the butter in a saucepot over medium heat, whisk in 2 tablespoons flour, 1 to 2 minutes, whisk in the milk and simmer to thicken. Season the bechamel sauce with salt, pepper, and nutmeg, to taste.
• Drain the pasta and add back to the pasta pot. Toss the pasta with the lamb ragu and some of the reserved starchy cooking water to loosen. Pour the pasta into a large casserole. Scatter the spinach around on top of pasta.
• Combine the ricotta with mint and/or parsley, dot the pasta with ricotta evenly around the casserole. Pour the bechamel sauce in even layer around the casserole and top with grated cheese. Cool and store for make-ahead meal. Reheat in 350 degree F oven, covered, for 30 minutes then raise the heat to 425 degrees F and bake uncovered, until brown and bubbly, 15 to 20 minutes.
• To serve immediately, transfer the casserole to a preheated 425 degree F oven and bake about 15 to 20 minutes, to brown.

MAMA ZUQUINIS LASAGNE DI ZUCCA SALSICCIA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Combine ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese and seasoning in medium bowl; mix well.
• Heat large, nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add garlic and sausage; cook, stirring to break into pieces, until browned. Transfer sausage to paper towel-lined plate to drain.
• Add pumpkin, wine and broth to skillet; cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until bubbly. Stir in sauce and sausage; heat through.
• Spread 1 cup sauce mixture over bottom of 11 x 7-inch or 13 x 9-inch baking dish. Top with 4 lasagna noodles. Spread 1 cup ricotta mixture over noodles. Sprinkle with 1 cup mozzarella cheese.
• Spread 1 cup sauce mixture over mozzarella cheese; top with remaining 4 lasagna noodles, remaining ricotta mixture and remaining sauce mixture. Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese. Pour water around edges of lasagna. Cover with foil.
• Bake for 40 to 45 minutes or until bubbly. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.

MAMA ZUQUINIS LAMB LASAGNA

Steps:

• SAUCE: In a 2-quart heavy-bottom saucepan, heat the oil over medium-high heat just until it begins to ripple, about 2 minutes. Stir in the onions and garlic and cook, stirring frequently until the onions are translucent.
• Stir in the basil, tomatoes, salt and pepper and continue to cook, stirring frequently, until the tomatoes break down and the sauce just coats the back of a spoon, about 20 minutes. Remove from heat. This makes about 2 cups sauce.
• EGGPLANT: Grill the eggplant: Brush the eggplant slices with 1 tablespoon olive oil, then season with one-fourth teaspoon salt and the pepper. Grill the eggplant on both sides to mark, then cool completely. Dice the eggplant into one-half-inch pieces.
• Heat the remaining oil in a large sauté pan over medium-high heat until the oil begins to ripple. Stir in the onions and garlic and cook, stirring frequently, until the onions are translucent. Stir in the herbs and tomato sauce and bring to a boil.
• Fold in the eggplant along with the crushed red pepper, roasted red pepper, red wine vinegar and remaining teaspoon salt. Remove from heat, taste, and adjust seasonings and flavoring as desired.
• LAMB: Heat the oil in a 2-quart saucepan over medium-high heat until it begins to ripple. Stir in the lamb and brown, stirring frequently. Add the wine and scrape any flavoring from the bottom of the pan. Cook until the wine is reduced by half.
• Stir in the demi-glace and reduce the total liquid by one-third. Stir in the tomato sauce, fresh mint and simmer for 20 minutes. Remove from heat and season to taste with salt and pepper. This makes a generous 2 cups sauce.
• LASAGNA: Heat the oven to 375 degrees F. Slice the tomatoes lengthwise into slices approximately one-fourth-inch thick and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Sprinkle over 2 tablespoons oil, and season with a generous pinch each of salt and pepper. Roast the tomatoes until lightly caramelized on top but still somewhat soft in the center, 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from heat.
• Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until al dente, 8 to 10 minutes. Drain the pasta and toss with 2 tablespoons olive oil. Spread the pasta on a baking sheet to cool slightly. The pasta can be made up to this point, and all of the components refrigerated for up to 2 days before completing the dish.
• ASSEMBLY: In separate saute pans, reheat Eggplant Caponata and the Lamb Sauce to just under boiling then simmer until ready to use.
• Heat the remaining one-fourth cup oil in a medium heavy-bottom pot over medium-low heat until it begins to ripple. Add the shallots and cook, stirring frequently, until lightly browned, about 1 minute. Stir in the cooked pasta, then stir in 1½ cups lamb sauce. Gently stir in the Eggplant Caponata. Stir in the grated Grana Padano and vinegar, and season to taste with salt and pepper. Remove from heat.
• Spoon the pasta into large serving bowls, and spoon over the remaining lamb sauce. Sprinkle the goat cheese crumbles over the servings then sprinkle over the chopped parsley. Fan roasted tomato slices over each to garnish, and serve immediately.

MAMA ZUQUINIS ZUPPA RUSTICA

Steps:

• Combine pasta, water and bouillon in large saucepan. Bring to a boil. Cook, stirring frequently, for 8 to 10 minutes or until pasta is tender and broth has reduced to about 1/2 cup; do not drain. Reduce heat to low; add pesto.
• Cook, stirring frequently, until sauce has reduced slightly. Stir in tomatoes, broccoli and beans. Cook, stirring occasionally, until heated through. Sprinkle with cheese before serving. Season with ground black pepper, if desired.

MINTY LAMB LASAGNA

Steps:

• Cook onion and garlic until soft.
• Add lamb to the pan and brown.
• Add mint salt, pepper, and tomatoes with juice. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover the pan and simmer for 30 minutes.
• Cook lasagna noodles according to package directions, undercooking slightly.
• Drain and let stand on paper towels until cool.
• Preheat oven to 350.
• Combine milk, flour, and butter in a small pan over med-low heat, stirring constantly until sauce thickens.
• Season with salt and pepper if desired.
• Coat 13x9 baking dish with cooking spray.
• Alternate layers of noodles with meat mixture beginning and ending with noodles.
• Spread white sauce over top and sprinkle evenly with cheese.
• Bake 40 minutes or until brown and bubbly.

MAMA ZUQUINIS MALFATTI

Steps:

• Place the frozen spinach in a saucepan with the salt. Cook until thawed (15 min) over low heat. Drain squeezing out the water from the spinach and then mince until fine.
• In a large bowl, combine the spinach, breadcrumbs, the two cheeses, eggs, the herbs, the nutmeg and black pepper. Mix well and refrigerate overnight.
• When ready to make, form oval dumplings 3 inches long and about 1 inch in diameter. Roll each dumpling in the flour. Do not let them touch each other while they stand.
• Bring the salted water to a boil. Drop the dumplings into the salted water to form one layer. When they have risen to the surface, cook for 4 more minutes.
• Lift out the cooked malfatti, letting them drain well, and place into a well-buttered oven proof dish in a 250 degrees F oven while the other batches cook.
• To serve, toss with butter and serve. Garnish with Parmesan cheese and 1 cup marinara per person.
• NOTE: can be frozen after cooking. To serve, toss frozen malfatti in melted butter and Parmesan cheese, place in a well buttered dish and heat in a 350 degree F oven for 30 minutes.

EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE) AND LAMB LASAGNA

Steps:

• (I also have the recipe for the bechamel sauce).
• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Wash the eggplants and cut in half lengthwise.
• Coat generously with olive oil.
• Place in a roasting pan and bake in the preheated oven for about 15 minute.
• Peel the garlic and onion.
• Place in the bowl of a food processor along with the pieces of cooked lamb and the cumin.
• Process until finely chopped.
• When eggplants are cooked, scoop out the flesh and crush with a fork.
• In a pan combine th eggplant flesh, tomatoes, and 1 tablespoon of olive oil.
• Add cilantro leaves.
• Simmer until mixture thickens. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Lightly oil a baking dish. Pour some of the bechamel sauce into the bottom of the dish, then build up alternate layers of lasagna noodles, lamb, and onion mixture, Bechamel Sauce, and the eggplant and tomato sauce.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minute.

MAMA ZUQUINIS PANZANELLA

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Using the tip of a paring knife, make two 1 inch cuts on the bottom of each tomato, forming an X. Add tomatoes to water and cook just until skin begins to peel back at each X, 30-40 seconds. Using a slotted spoon, transfer tomatoes to a large bowl of ice water; let cool.
• Peel and core tomatoes; place in another large bowl. (Alternatively, use a vegetable peeler with a serrated blade to peel tomatoes.) Using your hands, crush tomatoes, breaking up any large pieces and releasing juices.
• Stir in 1/2 cup oil, 5 Tbsp vinegar, and garlic. Season to taste with salt, pepper, and more vinegar, if desired.
• Add bread to tomato mixture in bowl. Toss until bread is well coated and starts to absorb liquid. Let sit for 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, char bell peppers and chilies directly over a gas flame or in the broiler until blackened all over. Transfer to a resealable plastic bag. Close bag and let sit for 15 minutes. Remove peppers and chiles; peel, core, seed, and cut into 1/4 inch strips.
• Add peppers, chiles, olives, and capers to bread mixture. Massage with your hands until all ingredients are thoroughly combined and bread is broken down (it will break down differently depending on what kind is used). Add basil and season with salt and pepper.
• Cover salad and let stand at room temperature for 1 hour. Drizzle with oil just before serving.