Restaurant Style Italian Lasagna Recipes

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.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F.
• Boil noodles and drain (you may also use uncooked noodles).
• Sauté garlic, sugar and salt.
• Add sausage and ground beef and brown, breaking into small crumbles.
• Add basil, pepper, tomatoes and paste; simmer 20-30 minutes until sauce thickens.
• Mix together in bowl, ricotta, egg and parsley (add milk if it's too thick).
• Layer sauce to cover bottom of pan, noodles 1/2 of ricotta mixture, 1/4 c of parmesan, noodles, ricotta, mozzarella, sauce and parmesan.
• Bake covered for 25 minutes.
• Uncover and bake another 25 minutes.
• Let cool about 10-15 minutes then cut and serve.
• Leftovers may be frozen and then heated in the oven until hot and melty.
• Goes great with crusty garlic toast and a salad.

Steps:

• 1. In a large skillet, brown the beef, Italian sausage, onion and garlic. Next, add the 1 1/2 teas. salt, Italian seasoning, parsley flakes, oregano, basil, cayenne, and chopped tomatoes. (with juice) Simmer for 1 hour.
• 2. Boil the lasagna noodles with 1/2 teas. olive oil and 1/2 teas. salt for exactly 12 minutes. (regardless of what the package directions read) Drain and set aside.
• 3. Pre-heat oven to 375. Combine ricotta or cottage cheese with tomato paste, eggs, black pepper, 2 TBLS. fresh chopped parsley, the parmesan cheese and 1/2 of the mozzarella cheese, (1/2 lb.) mixing well.
• 4. In the bottom of a 13 by 9, deep casserole dish, lay 4 noodles, length-wise across the dish, slightly over-laping if neccesary. Next, add half the meat sauce evenly acroos the noodles. Next, add cheese mixture evenly. Repeat, finishing with last layer of noodles.
• 5. Sprinkle over last layer of noodles evenly with remaining mozzarella cheese. Bake @ 375 degrees for 35 minutes. Cover dish with tinfoil, and bake for another 15 minutes or until cheese mixture is thourghly melted. Serve.

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add lasagna noodles and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• To make filling- Combine in a bowl: ricotta cheese, mozzarella, parmesan and eggs.
• To make sauce- In a skillet, brown the ground beef until cooked through; drain grease and onions and peppers and cook until vegetables have softened.
• Add to skillet, browned ground beef mixture, mushrooms,oregano, basil, garlic powder, sugar, salt, pepper and tomato sauce. Heat through and stir.
• In a 9x13 inch pan, alternate layers of cooked lasagna noodles, sauce, and filling, making 3 layers total. Top with sliced mozzarella and provolove cheese. Bake for 40 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before cutting.