Italian Lasagna Recipe

Ingredients:

For the Meat Sauce:

• 1 pound (450g) ground beef
• 1/2 pound (225g) ground pork
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes
• 1 (6 oz) can tomato paste
• 1/2 cup red wine (optional)
• 2 teaspoons dried basil
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• Salt and black pepper to taste

For the Ricotta Filling:

• 2 cups ricotta cheese
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
• 1 egg
• Salt and black pepper to taste

Other Ingredients:

• 12 lasagna noodles, cooked and drained
• 3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions:

1. Make the Meat Sauce:

1. In a large skillet, cook the ground beef and ground pork over medium-high heat until browned. Drain any excess fat.
2. Add chopped onions and minced garlic, and sauté until they become translucent.
3. Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, red wine (if using), basil, oregano, salt, and black pepper. Simmer for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

2. Prepare the Ricotta Filling:

1. In a bowl, combine ricotta cheese, grated Parmesan cheese, chopped basil, an egg, salt, and black pepper.

3. Assemble the Lasagna:

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. In a 9x13-inch baking dish, spread a small amount of meat sauce to prevent sticking.
3. Place a layer of cooked lasagna noodles on the sauce.
4. Spread half of the ricotta mixture over the noodles, then sprinkle with mozzarella cheese.
5. Repeat the layers, ending with a final layer of noodles, meat sauce, mozzarella cheese, and grated Parmesan cheese.

4. Bake:

1. Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake for 25 minutes.
2. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 25 minutes until the lasagna is bubbly and the cheese is golden brown.

5. Serve:

1. Let the lasagna rest for a few minutes before slicing and serving. Enjoy your homemade Italian Lasagna!