Ww Watch Your Weight Lasagna With Meat Sauce Recipes

Steps:

• Cook the lasagna noodles according to package directions.
• Drain, rinse with cold water and set aside.
• Toast and grind the fennel seeds by placing them in a small dry skillet over medium-low heat.
• Cook, shaking the pan and stirring constantly until lightly browned and fragrant, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Watch them carefully- they will burn quickly!
• Remove from pan and grind to a powder.
• Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat.
• Add the oil, then add the beef, onion, bell pepper and zucchini.
• Cook, stirring occasionally, until the beef browns.
• Stir in the marinara sauce and fennel, bring to a boil.
• Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, until slightly thickened and the flavors blend, about 10 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 375°F.
• Spread one-fourth of the meat sauce in a 9 x 13 inch baking dish.
• Top with 3 of the noodles; spread with 1/2 cup of ricotta.
• Repeat the layering twice, ending with the meat sauce.
• Cover with foil and bake 30 minutes.
• Remove the foil and sprinkle with the mozzarella and Romano.
• Bake until heated through and cheeses are lightly browned, abut 20 minutes longer.
• Let stand about 10 minutes before serving.

Steps:

• Heat oil in large heavy saucepan over medium heat. Add onion, carrot, cleery and garlic; cook, stirring frequently until vegetables are tender, about 15 minutes.
• Increase heat to medium-high and add beef; cook until browned, breaking up meat with a spoon as it cooks, about 5 minutes.
• Add wine; cook, stirring once, until most of the liquid has evaporated, 2-3 minutes.
• Stir in tomatoes and paste, oregano, salt, black and red pepper; increase heat to high and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer, uncovered, until sauce thickens, about 20 minutes; stir in basil.
• Preheat oven to 375.
• Make the filling by putting into a medium bowl ricotta, egg, Parmesan cheese and parsley.
• In a 13x9 inch baking dish spread 2 cups meat sauce on the bottom of the pan. Layer 4 noodles on top, overlapping to fit if needed.
• Spoon about 2 1/4 cups meat sauce over noodles; top with 1/2 cup filling mixture and 1/2 cup mozzarella. Repeat, layering with remaining noodles, sauce, filling and mozzarella, reserving 1/2 cup mozzarella.
• Cover lasagna with foil and bake 45 minutes. Remove foil, sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup mozzarella and bake until cheese melts and lightly browns, about 5 minutes; remove from oven and let rest 15 minutes; slice into 12 pieces.
• If desired, you can make this recipe a day ahead and stop short of baking. Let the dish cool to room temperature and cover and refrigerate until ready to bake. Allow 15 minutes more baking time to cook through.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• Meat Sauce: Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium-high. Add beef, sausage, onion, carrots, celery, and 1 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring occasionally and breaking up meat into bite-size pieces, until vegetables soften and meat has browned, about 10 minutes. Add garlic, oregano, and red-pepper flakes; cook until fragrant, 1 minute. Add tomato paste; cook 2 minutes more. Puree tomatoes in a blender or food processor; add to pan. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until reduced and thickened slightly but still very loose, about 15 minutes. Remove from heat.
• Cheese Mixture: In a large bowl, whisk together ricotta, milk, eggs, 1 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano, 2 1/2 cups mozzarella, parsley, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.
• Assembly: Spread 2 cups meat sauce evenly in a 9-by-13-inch baking dish, preferably ceramic or enameled cast iron. Arrange 3 lasagna noodles over sauce (space noodles evenly; they will expand as the lasagna cooks). Spread 2 cups cheese mixture over noodles; top with 3 more noodles. Repeat layering of meat and cheese mixtures between noodles twice more. Spread 2 cups meat sauce evenly over top layer of noodles. Sprinkle evenly with remaining 1 1/2 cups mozzarella and 1/4 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano. Loosely cover with parchment-lined foil and transfer to a rimmed baking sheet.
• Bake until noodles are tender but still al dente (easily pierced with the tip of a knife), 40 to 45 minutes. Uncover; continue baking until bubbly and puffed slightly along edges and golden brown in places on top, 20 to 25 minutes more. (There may appear to be a lot of liquid in the dish. It will be absorbed as the lasagna cools.) Transfer dish to a wire rack and let cool slightly and set, about 20 minutes; cut into squares to serve.