Mozzarella Lasagna Food

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.

WORLD'S BEST LASAGNA

Steps:

• In a Dutch oven, cook sausage, ground beef, onion, and garlic over medium heat until well browned. Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, tomato sauce, and water. Season with sugar, basil, fennel seeds, Italian seasoning, 1 teaspoon salt, pepper, and 2 tablespoons parsley. Simmer, covered, for about 1 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally.
• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook lasagna noodles in boiling water for 8 to 10 minutes. Drain noodles, and rinse with cold water. In a mixing bowl, combine ricotta cheese with egg, remaining parsley, and 1/2 teaspoon salt.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• To assemble, spread 1 1/2 cups of meat sauce in the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking dish. Arrange 6 noodles lengthwise over meat sauce. Spread with one half of the ricotta cheese mixture. Top with a third of mozzarella cheese slices. Spoon 1 1/2 cups meat sauce over mozzarella, and sprinkle with 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese. Repeat layers, and top with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. Cover with foil: to prevent sticking, either spray foil with cooking spray, or make sure the foil does not touch the cheese.
• Bake in preheated oven for 25 minutes. Remove foil, and bake an additional 25 minutes. Cool for 15 minutes before serving.

THE BEST LASAGNA

Steps:

• Place the beef in a large bowl and "pull" it apart with two forks as if you were shredding pulled pork, breaking up the clumps and loosening the meat without compacting it.
• Heat the oil in a Dutch oven or large heavy pot over medium-high heat. Add the pancetta and cook, stirring occasionally, until the fat has rendered and the meat is golden brown, 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer the pancetta to a large bowl with a slotted spoon, leaving the fat in the pot.
• Spread the beef in an even layer in the same pot and cook undisturbed until lightly browned, about 3 minutes. Toss and continue to cook, breaking up any clumps and scraping up any browned bits from the pot, until the meat is browned and completely cooked, 5 to 6 minutes. Transfer the browned meat with a slotted spoon to the bowl with the pancetta, leaving the fat in the pot.
• Reduce the heat to medium. Add the carrots, celery, onions, half the garlic, the bay leaf, oregano, red pepper flakes, nutmeg, 2 teaspoons salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper to the pot and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender but not browned, 6 to 8 minutes.
• Add the tomato paste and cook, stirring constantly, until it's very fragrant and brick red colored, about 2 minutes. Stir in the wine, bring to a boil and reduce until the liquid is very thick and no smell of alcohol remains, 6 to 8 minutes. Add the tomatoes and the reserved pancetta and beef, bring to a boil and then reduce the heat to low. Add the basil and Parmesan rind and simmer, stirring occasionally, until most of the liquid has evaporated and the sauce resembles sloppy joes, 2 to 2 1/2 hours. There shouldn't be any rapid bubbles while cooking. Instead, the ragu should release occasional small bubbles. If the ragu reduces too quickly, add 1/2 cup of water and continue cooking. Repeat if necessary. The ragu needs the full 2 to 2 1/2 hour cook time to develop the flavors.
• Discard the bay leaf, basil and Parmesan rind. Break up any remaining clumps of meat with the back of a spoon, making an even textured sauce. Season with salt and set aside until ready to assemble.
• Arrange a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Cook the noodles, stirring occasionally and separating them to prevent sticking, until softened and bendable but are still hard and chalky in the center, about 5 minutes. Transfer the noodles to a large bowl of cold water and set aside until ready to assemble.
• Stir together the ricotta, 1 cup of the Parmesan, the remaining grated garlic and 2 teaspoons salt in a medium bowl until thoroughly combined. Set aside until ready to assemble.
• Lightly oil a 13-by-9-inch glass or ceramic baking pan. Spread 1 cup of the ragu evenly in the bottom of the pan. Lay a single layer of noodles over the ragu (if you're using long noodles, you will need to cut some noodles to fill the gaps). Spread 1 1/2 cups of the ragu over the noodles. Dollop 3/4 cup of the ricotta mixture over the ragu and spread lightly with a small offset spatula. Sprinkle with 1/2 cup of the mozzarella, followed by another layer of noodles. Repeat with the remaining pasta, ragu, ricotta mixture and mozzarella, creating 4 layers of pasta and ending with the remaining 1/2 cup mozzarella. (The lasagna should come just above the top of the pan but it will sink down slightly as it cooks.) Top with the remaining 1/4 cup Parmesan.
• Lightly oil a piece of foil and cover the pan. Put the pan on a rimmed baking sheet to catch any drips. Bake the lasagna until bubbling gently around the edges, about 1 hour.
• Remove the lasagna from the oven and increase the oven temperature to 450 degrees F. Remove the foil and then continue to bake the lasagna until the top is browned and crisp around the edges, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Let sit 10 minutes before serving.

TOMATO AND MOZZARELLA LASAGNE

Steps:

• Make sauce:
• Cook onions in butter and oil with oregano, thyme, and salt and pepper to taste in a 4-quart saucepan over moderate heat, stirring, until onions are softened. Add garlic and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Add tomatoes and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened, about 18 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in parsley, orange juice, and salt and pepper to taste.
• Preheat oven to 375°F. and butter 2 (13- by 9-inch) baking dishes.
• Assemble lasagne:
• Soak lasagne sheets in hot water to cover by 1 inch until softened and flexible, about 20 minutes.
• Spread 1 1/2 cups sauce in each baking dish and top sauce in each dish with 3 drained pasta sheets, overlapping if necessary. Sprinkle 1 cup mozzarella and 1/4 cup parmesan evenly in each dish. Top with 3 drained pasta sheets per dish, overlapping if necessary. Repeat layering with 1 cup mozzarella, 1/4 cup parmesan, 1 cups sauce, and 3 drained pasta sheets in each dish. Finish assembling lasagne by topping each with 1 cups sauce. (You will have leftover sauce and mozzarella.)
• Bake lasagne, covered with foil, in middle of oven 30 minutes. Remove foil and sprinkle evenly with remaining 2 cups mozzarella. Bake until bubbling and cheese is melted, about 10 minutes more.
• Serve lasagne with some of remaining sauce, reheated.

THE ULTIMATE LASAGNE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas 4.
• For the ragu, heat the olive oil in a frying pan over a low heat and fry the celery, carrots and onion for approximately 15 minutes, until softened and golden. Add the garlic and rosemary and fry for two more minutes.
• Add the beef and pork mince and cook until the liquid from the meat has been absorbed.
• Pour in approximately 400ml/14fl oz of red wine and stir well. Cook for approximately 45 minutes.
• Once the wine has evaporated, add the tomatoes and stock. Leave the mixture uncovered to cook slowly for two hours. Top up with more warm stock if necessary. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
• To make the bechamel sauce, place the milk in a large non-stick saucepan, add the bay leaves, onion and nutmeg and gently bring to the boil.
• In a separate saucepan melt the butter and add the flour. Beat well and cook for two minutes. Remove the milk from the heat and add a little to the flour mixture. Combine well, and when all the milk has been absorbed, add a little more. Continue to do this until all the milk has been added, whisking continually.
• For the lasagne, blanch the pasta in salted boiling water for three minutes. Spoon a third of the bechamel sauce into the bottom of a lasagne dish in a layer, then place some of the pasta strips over the top. Follow this with some of the mozzarella and parmesan, and sprinkle over freshly ground black pepper. Follow with a layer of ragu. Repeat this step twice until all the ingredients have been used up. Dot knobs of butter over the surface and cook in the oven for 30 minutes, or until golden-brown on top and completely cooked through.

LASAGNE ALLA MOZZARELLA (MOZZARELLA LASAGNA)

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• In a heavy bottomed pan, melt the butter over low heat. Add the flour and whisk to combine. Continue to cook, whisking constantly, until the roux begins to turn a golden brown, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Slowly add the milk, constantly whisking, until the roux has blended into the milk. Season with salt and pepper to taste and set aside.
• Gather the ingredients.
• Preheat the oven to 400 F / 200 C and butter a rectangular baking dish large enough to contain the ingredients.
• Place the tomato sauce in a bowl. Finely chop the garlic and add it to the tomato sauce, together with the basil. Thinly slice the mozzarella.
• Begin with a layer of pasta, followed by thin layer of tomato sauce (the cheese should not float in it), then the mozzarella, salt and pepper to taste, and another layer of pasta. Continue until all of these ingredients are used up, finishing with a layer of pasta.
• Sprinkle the grated Parmigiano over the lasagna, and evenly pour over the besciamella sauce.
• Bake the lasagna for 15 minutes. Cover it with a sheet of parchment paper and bake for 20 minutes more. Let cool slightly before cutting for easier serving.
• Serve and enjoy.

MOZZARELLA LASAGNA

Steps:

• Preheat your oven to 190C/375/F/Gas 5.
• Peel and chop the onion and slice mozzarella thinly. Heat oil and fry onion and mince for 5 minutes, sirring. Add sauce, cover and simmer for 20 minutes. Season.
• Meanwhile, melt butter in a pan. Stir in the flour and cook for 1 minute. Remove from heat and add milk. Stir the sauce over a low heat until thickened.
• Spread a third of the meat sauce over the base of a 2 litre dish. Top with a third of the mozzarella, cover with a third of the lasagne sheets. Repeat layers twice. Spoon over white sauce. Sprinkle with Parmesan.
• Bake for 45 minutes, until cooked through.

NEAPOLITAN LASAGNA WITH FRESH MOZZARELLA.

Steps:

• Preheat your oven to 350F. Do this before you start assembling the lasagna.

30 WAYS TO USE FRESH MOZZARELLA

Steps:

• Select your favorite recipe.
• Organize all the required ingredients.
• Prep a mozzarella dish in 30 minutes or less!

CLASSIC CHEESE LASAGNA

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F.
• Mix ricotta, 2 cups mozzarella, 1/4 cup Parmesan, parsley and egg until blended.
• Spread 3/4 cup pasta sauce onto bottom of 13x9-inch baking dish; top with 3 lasagna noodles and 1/3 of the ricotta mixture. Repeat layers of sauce, noodles and ricotta mixture twice; cover with remaining noodles and sauce. Sprinkle with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan.
• Bake 45 min. or until heated through. Let stand 15 min. before cutting to serve.

MOM'S LASAGNA

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a large heavy bottomed pot. Add onions and a good pinch of salt and sauté until soft and starting to brown. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about a minute.
• Add the ground beef and brown, breaking up the meat with a wooden spoon until no longer pink.
• Add the basil and oregano and mix to combine.
• Put the whole tomatoes in a bowl and crush by hand. Add to the meat and onion mixture along with the tomato sauce, tomato paste, water and a generous pinch of sugar. Season with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil and then immediately turn down heat and simmer with a lid on for about 1 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally. (My mom's recipe says to simmer for hours, an hour and a half is plenty.)
• Let cool and then refrigerate overnight. The sauce is always better the next day and now all you have to do is assemble the lasagna.
• Drain the cottage cheese in a fine mesh sieve over the sink until most of the liquid has drained, stirring gently several times. Takes about an hour or two.
• Preheat oven to 350º
• In a 11 X 15 lasagna pan, ladle in some sauce to cover the bottom of the pan. Arrange 6 noodles, overlapping slightly, over the sauce in the bottom of the pan. Next, spoon half of the drained cottage cheese over the noodles. Sprinkle half the shredded mozzarella over the cottage cheese. Then generously spoon some sauce over the cheese.
• Repeat with another 6 noodles, the remaining cottage cheese and follow with the remaining mozzarella. Generously spoon more sauce over this layer.
• Top with 6 more noodles. Spoon sauce over entire top of lasagna noodles and also spoon some down the corners and edges. All the noodles should be covered.
• Sprinkle with some grated parmesan and then cover pan with foil.
• Bake for 45 minutes and then remove the foil and bake, uncovered, for another 15 minutes.
• Let lasagna rest 10 minutes or so before serving. Enjoy.

MUSHROOM & SMOKED MOZZARELLA LASAGNA

Steps:

• Heat a large saute pan over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil, pancetta and onions and cook, stirring until the onion softens and starts to brown (about 4 mins). Add the mushrooms (pan will be crowded to start). Cook, stirring every 2 or 3 minutes, until the mushrooms have released their water. Add the white wine and raise heat to high. Cook, stirring, until almost all of the liquid had evaporated (about 8 mins). Add salt & pepper as needed. Remove from heat and set aside.
• Heat the milk and set aside. In a heavy 2 to 3 quart saucepan, melt the butter over moderate heat, then stir in the flour. Stirring continuously, cook over medium heat for 2 ro 3 minutes untl the paste begins to thin out. Add the warm milk in a steady stream while whisking the mixture, to make bechamel sauce. Add nutmeg to taste. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and let simmer about 10 minutes, strring every few minutes. The sauce should coat the back of a spoon, if it is too thick, add a little more milk. Remove from the heat and cover the surface with plastic wrap until assembling the lasagna to keep a skin from forming.
• In a separate bowl, combine the smoked and regular mozzarella. Using a 13x9-in pan, spoon a few tablespoons of the bechamel sauce over the bottom. Cover with a layer of lasagna sheets. Spread on half of the mushroom mixture, then a third of the bechamel, then a thrid of the mozzarella. Repeat the layers, ending with a final layer of lasagna sheets. Spread what remains of the bechamel evenly over the lasagna and sprinkle with the remaining mozzarella.
• At this point, the lasagna may be refrigerated and baked later. Bake covered at 375 degrees F for 45 minutes, remove the foil and bake an addtional 15 minutes until golden brown. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.

SAUSAGE, RICOTTA & MOZZARELLA LASAGNA

Steps:

• Heat oven 375°F.
• Cook peppers, onions and garlic in large nonstick skillet on medium heat 2 to 3 min. or until crisp-tender, stirring frequently.
• Add crumbled sausage; cook 8 to 10 min. or until done, stirring frequently. Stir in pasta sauce and broth; simmer 10 min., stirring occasionally. Meanwhile, mix egg and ricotta until blended.
• Spread 1/3 of the meat sauce onto bottom of 13x9-inch baking dish sprayed with cooking spray; cover with 3 noodles, half the ricotta mixture and 1 cup mozzarella. Top with layers of 3 of the remaining noodles, half the remaining meat sauce and 3 of the remaining noodles. Cover with remaining ricotta mixture, noodles and meat sauce. Sprinkle with Parmesan and remaining mozzarella; cover.
• Bake 35 min. or until heated through, uncovering for the last 15 min. Let stand 10 min. before cutting to serve.