1. Preheat the Oven
- Set oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
2. Make the Meat Sauce
- Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat.
- Sauté onion until soft (3–4 minutes), then add garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
- Add ground beef, break it up, and cook until browned (6–8 minutes). Drain excess fat.
- Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, herbs, red pepper flakes (if using), salt, and pepper.
- Simmer for 10–15 minutes to deepen the flavor.
3. Prepare the Cheese Filling
- In a bowl, mix ricotta, egg, Parmesan, parsley, salt, and pepper until smooth.
4. Assemble the Lasagna:
- Spread 1 cup of meat sauce on the bottom of the dish.
- Layer noodles (3–4 per layer), then spread ⅓ of the ricotta mixture, 1 cup meat sauce, and 1 cup mozzarella.
- Repeat layers twice more.
- Finish with a final layer of noodles, the remaining meat sauce, and the rest of the mozzarella.
5. Bake
- Cover with greased foil and bake for 25 minutes.
- Remove foil and bake another 15–20 minutes until bubbly and golden.
- Optional: Broil for 2–3 minutes for extra browning—watch closely.
6. Rest & Serve
- Let lasagna rest for 10–15 minutes before slicing.
- Garnish with fresh basil if desired.
- Serve with garlic bread or a crisp salad for a complete meal.
Pages: 1 2
