Mama Zuquinis Lamb Lasagna Recipes

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

ZUCCHINI-RIBBON "LASAGNA"

Steps:

• Make the sauce: Pulse tomatoes with juice in a food processor until finely chopped. Heat oil in a large straight-sided skillet over medium heat. Cook onion and red-pepper flakes, stirring occasionally, until onion is tender, about 8 minutes. Add turkey; cook, breaking up any large pieces, until browned, 3 to 4 minutes. Add tomatoes; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer until thick, about 20 minutes. Stir in oregano and salt. Let cool.
• Make the lasagna: Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Slice zucchini lengthwise into thin strips (about 1/8 inch thick) using a mandoline or a sharp knife. Place 5 or 6 zucchini slices, overlapping slightly, in the bottom of an 8-inch square baking dish. Top with 1 cup sauce. Dot with 1/4 cup ricotta. Repeat twice with zucchini, remaining sauce, and 1/2 cup ricotta, alternating direction of zucchini. Top with remaining zucchini, alternating direction; brush with oil. Dot with remaining 1/4 cup ricotta. Season with pepper. Bake, uncovered, until lasagna bubbles and top browns, 50 to 60 minutes. Let stand for 10 minutes. Garnish with oregano.

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.