Spuds Lasagna Loaf Recipes

LOAF PAN LASAGNA

Steps:

• Cover a baking sheet with plastic wrap.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add some salt. Cook the lasagna noodles until al dente, 5 to 7 minutes. Drain, then lay out flat on the wrapped baking sheet until ready to assemble.
• Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large skillet or saucepan set over medium-high heat. Add the sausage, beef and garlic and cook until the meat is browned completely, about 5 minutes. Drain off all but 2 tablespoons of the fat (if needed), add the tomato paste and fry for 1 minute. Add the tomatoes and crush with a spoon. Add the basil, 1 tablespoon of the parsley and 1 tablespoon salt. Bring to a simmer and cook for 25 to 30 minutes.
• In a medium bowl, add the cottage cheese, ricotta, beaten eggs, 1/2 cup of the grated Parmesan, 2 teaspoons salt and remaining 1 tablespoon parsley and mix together well. Set aside.
• Before or during assembly, cut or tear the lasagna sheets in half crosswise.
• To assemble each loaf pan: Add just enough meat sauce (about 1/4 cup) to cover the bottom of each of three 8 1/2-by-4 1/2-by-2 1/2-inch aluminum foil loaf pans. Layer 4 half lasagna sheets, overlapping, over the sauce on each. Top with 1/2 cup of the cottage cheese mixture, spread evenly. Top with 3 slices mozzarella, then 1/2 cup meat sauce, then 4 half lasagna sheets, overlapping. Top with 1/2 cup cottage cheese mixture, spread evenly, 3 slices mozzarella and 1/2 cup meat sauce. Finish with 4 half lasagna sheets, overlapping, 1/2 cup meat sauce and 1 tablespoon grated Parmesan. The lasagnas can be baked right away, covered in foil and refrigerated for up to 2 days or wrapped in foil and frozen.
• If baking right away, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Put the loaf pan on a baking sheet and bake until hot and bubbly, about 20 minutes. Serve with a couple of slices of ciabatta or baguette and cherry tomatoes tossed in basil.
• If baking from frozen, put the loaf pan on a baking sheet, cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees F for 1 hour. Uncover and bake until hot and bubbly, an additional 20 to 25 minutes.

POLENTA LASAGNA LOAF

Steps:

• Prepare polenta: Bring water and salt to a boil over high heat. Whisk polenta into the boiling water and continue whisking until it starts to thicken, about 1 minute. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring often, until polenta is soft and has lost its grainy texture, 25 to 40 minutes.
• Remove polenta from the stove and quickly whisk in butter and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese.
• Transfer polenta to a silicone baking liner (or oiled foil or parchment paper). Spread it out evenly almost to the edges into an 8x13-inch rectangle. Cover with plastic wrap and smooth out the top with your hands. Place a baking sheet on top and press slightly to further flatten.
• Slide the silicone liner and polenta onto the baking sheet and place in the refrigerator until firm, about 1 hour.
• Remove polenta from the refrigerator and cut, from one long edge to the other, into 8-inch long strips.
• Prepare filling: Stir ricotta, Parmigiano-Reggiano, mozzarella, salt, pepper, cayenne, egg, and parsley in a bowl until well combined.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease a loaf pan with 1 tablespoon oil.
• Place one strip of polenta into the bottom of the prepared loaf pan. Spread 1/3 of the filling on top as evenly as you can. Top with about 1 cup hot meat sauce. Repeat polenta-filling-sauce layers twice more. Place the last piece of polenta on top, then gently shake and tap the pan to settle the contents. Place the loaf pan on top of a sheet pan to catch any spills while baking. Loosely wrap the top of the loaf pan with foil, making sure it's not touching the polenta.
• Bake in the preheated oven until bubbly, about 1 hour.
• Remove from the oven, discard foil, and let rest for at least 15 minutes.
• Divide onto 6 plates. Garnish with parsley and serve with additional sauce.

LOAF PAN LASAGNA FOR TWO

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Heat the olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the onion, garlic and 1/2 teaspoon salt and saute until the onion is translucent and softened, stirring occasionally, about 4 minutes. Add the ground beef and use a wooden spoon to break it into pieces. Cook, stirring occasionally, until no longer pink, 4 to 6 minutes. Add the oregano and cook 1 minute. Stir in the marinara and let simmer while you make the ricotta mixture.
• Lightly beat the egg in a medium bowl. Stir in the ricotta, parsley, basil, 1/2 cup mozzarella and 1/2 cup Parmesan until combined.
• Begin to layer the lasagna, spread 2 tablespoons marinara sauce evenly over the bottom of an 8 1/2-by-4 1/2-inch loaf pan. Cover with 1 lasagna noodle. Spread on 1/3 cup of the ricotta mixture followed by 1/2 cup marinara sauce. Top with another noodle. Repeat layering 4 more times, ending with the sauce. Top the final layer with the remaining 1/2 cup mozzarella and 2 tablespoons Parmesan. Bake until the noodles are tender and the cheese is melted and bubbly, about 30 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.