recipes
Cheesy Mama’s Lasagna: A Comforting Italian Classic Recipe
Certainly! 🍝 Here’s the tantalizing recipe for Mama’s Lasagna, a cherished family dish that’s bound to become a favorite in your kitchen too! This recipe, straight from Mama herself, is a testament to the beauty of simple, hearty Italian cooking. 🇮🇹✨
Mama’s Lasagna
Overview:
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
- Servings: 12
- Calories per Serving: 252.4
- Recipe Category: Meat
- Keywords: Very Low Carbs, Potluck, Spring, Winter, Hanukkah, Weeknight, < 4 Hours
- Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5 stars)
Ingredients:
| Quantity | Ingredient |
|---|---|
| 1 lb | Ground beef |
| 1 can | Tomato sauce |
| 2 tbsp | Tomato paste |
| 1 cup | Cottage cheese |
| 1 cup | Ricotta cheese |
| 1/2 cup | Shredded mozzarella |
| 1 | Egg |
| Fresh parsley, chopped |
Instructions:
-
Brown Ground Beef:
- In a frying pan over medium heat, brown the ground beef until it’s nicely cooked through.
-
-
Add Sauce:
- Pour in the tomato sauce and tomato paste, stirring well to combine. Let it simmer gently while you prepare the other ingredients.
-
Prepare Cheese Mixture:
- In a mixing bowl, combine the cottage cheese, ricotta cheese, egg, and freshly chopped parsley. Mix until smooth and well incorporated.
-
Layering:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- In a 9×13 inch baking pan, spread a thin layer of the meat sauce on the bottom.
- Arrange a layer of uncooked lasagna noodles over the sauce.
- Next, spoon over a layer of the cheese mixture, spreading it evenly.
- Follow with a layer of the meat sauce, ensuring it covers the cheese layer.
- Repeat the layers until you’ve used up all your ingredients, finishing with a layer of mozzarella cheese on top.
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Final Touches:
- Sprinkle a generous amount of Parmesan cheese over the top layer of mozzarella for that irresistible golden crust.
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Bake to Perfection:
- Cover the lasagna with foil to keep the moisture in.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes to 1 hour. The lasagna should be bubbly, the cheese melted, and the noodles tender.
- For that perfect finishing touch, remove the foil during the last 10 minutes of baking to get a beautifully golden and crispy top.
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Serve and Enjoy:
- Allow the lasagna to rest for about 10-15 minutes before slicing. This helps everything settle and makes for easier serving.
- Garnish with more fresh parsley if desired, then serve up hearty slices of this comforting Mama’s Lasagna to your delighted guests or family.
Tips & Tricks:
- Make-Ahead: Mama’s Lasagna can be assembled a day ahead and refrigerated until ready to bake. This makes it perfect for busy days or entertaining!
- Freezing: Leftovers can be frozen for future delicious meals. Just thaw overnight in the refrigerator and reheat in the oven until warmed through.
This lasagna is a true labor of love, each layer telling a story of comfort and tradition. With its rich, cheesy goodness and hearty meat sauce, it’s no wonder this recipe has become a staple for birthdays and special occasions in our family. We hope it brings as much joy and deliciousness to your table as it has to ours! 🍽️✨
