Old World Lasagna Recipes

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.

OLD WORLD LASAGNA

Steps:

• 1. Prepare sauce, allowing 4 ½ hours for cooking. Add the onion and garlic to hot oil in a large, deep skillet and cook until onion is soft. Add the ground meat, separate it into small pieces, and cook until lightly browned. In a large saucepan, combine the tomatoes, tomato paste, tomato sauce, and water. Add the spices, and browned meat mixture. Cook, uncovered, over a low heat for about 1 hour, stirring occasionally.
• 2. After sauce is prepared, start the actual Lasagna. Heat olive oil in a skillet. Add ground beef and cook until browned, separating into small pieces. Spread ½ cup of sauce in a 2 quart baking dish. Top with a layer of noodles and ½ cup of the mozzarella cheese. Spread 1/3 of the ground beef and half the egg slices on top. Sprinkle on half the Parmesan cheese and ¼ teaspoon of the pepper. Top with ¼ cup of ricotta. Beginning with the sauce, repeat the layering, ending with the ricotta. Top ricotta with ½ cup sauce. Top with ricotta and with ½ cup sauce. Arrange over this, the remaining noodles. Top with more sauce.
• 3. Bake at 375 about 30 minutes, or until mixture is bubbling. Let stand for 5 to 10 minutes to set the layers. Cut in squares and serve topped with the remaining sauce.

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.

OLD SCHOOL LASAGNA WITH BOLOGNESE SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Tomato Sauce:
• In a medium pot, heat the olive oil and add the onions and garlic. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. When it turns light brown, add the thyme, bay leaf and tomatoes. Simmer for 20 minutes, then taste for seasoning. Add more salt and pepper, if desired. Remove and discard the thyme and bay leaves. Stir in the basil leaves and shut off the heat to allow the sauce to "rest."
• Pasta: Bring the water to a boil over medium heat. Add the salt and the lasagna sheets. Cook for 4 minutes, drain and rinse under cold water. The pasta should still be very firm to the touch. Separate the sheets carefully so they don't stick together.
• Divide the tomato sauce in half and reserve half for the Bolognese and half for the lasagna.
• Assemble the lasagna:
• Spoon a thin layer of the sauce in the bottom of the baking pan. Arrange a layer of pasta sheets over the sauce. Sprinkle some of the mozzarella and Parmesan over the pasta and another thin layer of sauce. Repeat the layering process 2 more times. It is important there be remaining cheese and sauce for the top. Cook's Note: I love to get a corner piece from the pan and pick at the crispy edges of the top layer. When you finish, there should be 4 layers of pasta and 5 layers of filling.
• Cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil and put it in the center of the oven. Bake for 45 minutes. Raise the temperature of the oven to 450 degrees F and remove the aluminum foil. Bake until the top browns slightly, about 10 to 15 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven and let it cool for 15 minutes or so before serving.
• Make the Bolognese while the lasagna is baking:
• In a large wide pot over medium-high heat, add the olive oil. Add the ground beef and cook until brown, about 4 to 5 minutes, stirring with a wooden spoon to break up the pieces. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Remove the beef from the pot and set aside. Set the pot back over the heat and add a little more olive oil. Add carrots, onion and celery. Cook until browned, about 5 minutes. Add the beef back to the pot, then add the reserved 1/2 recipe of tomato sauce. Cover slightly and simmer for 20 minutes.
• When done, finish with milk, taste, season and serve, spooned over the lasagna.

OLD WORLD ITALIAN LASAGNA

Steps:

• In a skillet, cook the meat until brown, crushing it as you turn it over. Drain.
• While the meat is cooking, get a large pot and fill with water.
• Cook lasagna noodles 4 at a time for 10 minutes. After 10 min, remove each noodle and place on wax paper, making layers of 4 each.
• Put meat in large bowl, add half of tomato sauce. Crush garlic in a press, and add it to mixture. Add Italian seasoning.
• Beat the egg in another large bowl, then add the entire container of ricotta. Add about 2 handfuls of Parmesan cheese, or until the mixture has texture. Stir well.
• In a lasagna pan, put a layer of tomato sauce on the bottom. Add 4 lasagna noodles on top of that. Put another layer of sauce on top of them.
• Add a layer meat/tomato sauce mixture on top of the noodles.
• Add a layer of cheese/egg mixture on top of the meat.
• Add 4 more lasagna noodles on top, following with a layer of sauce.
• Repeat steps 7-9 until you have 3 layers of noodles.
• Add a layer of sauce on the top layer of noodles. Sprinkle mozzarella to cover.
• Bake at 375 degrees for 30 min., covered.
• If you would like to bake the next day, cover and put in refrigerator. When ready to cook, preheat oven to 375 degrees and bake covered for 30 minutes. Uncover, bake an additional 10-15 minutes.