It was recently my son’s 10th birthday and he requested that I make lasagna. Lasagna is my son’s all time favorite meal, and I’m pretty fond of it as well. Now there are many more in depth lasagna recipes I could have made, but I went a more simplistic route. Too make a good meal, you don’t always have to over-complicate things. I decided to make a simple Italian lasagna.
I’m a type of guy that loves to cook by “feel“. I use my instincts a lot when I cook, typically straying from any set recipe to make it my own. Well, it worked out fabulously; everyone loved my lasagna, especially the birthday boy.
Here is how I made it.
Ingredients:
2lbs. bulk Italian sausage
2 jars spaghetti sauce/marinara sauce
16 oz. shredded mozzarella cheese
Parmesan cheese
Lasagna noodles
Ricotta cheese
Cottage cheese
3 eggs
Italian seasoning
Now like I said I cook by feel, modify the ingredient amount how you see fit.
I browned 2lbs. bulk Italian sausage in a skillet. I like my lasagna meaty, and love Italian sausage. You could cut it down to a pound if you want it less meaty. Another alternative is to use hot Italian sausage. Now, I would probably really like that, but others may not like it as spicy as I do. Make sure to drain the grease when browned.
While the sausage is cooking, mix the following in a bowl: 3 eggs, about 16 oz. ricotta cheese, 16 oz. cottage cheese, and a Tbsp or two of Italian seasoning. Set this aside. You can play with the amounts of cottage and ricotta cheese too. You can leave one or the other out, or cut the amounts in half as well.
After the sausage is done, pour in a couple of jars of spaghetti sauce with it and mix it well. Make sure you get a sauce you like, don’t just buy the cheapest. The sauce really makes a lasagna so don’t skimp on it. An even better idea is, if you garden and make your own sauce, use that instead. Unfortunately I didn’t have any on hand.
If you haven’t done so already boil your lasagna noodles according to package directions, or an even better idea is try out the no boil noodles. These are pretty slick, you don’t have to boil them, and you just add them into the lasagna.
Let’s get building:
First, heat your oven to 350° F.
- In a 13×9 baking dish ladle in a bit of the meat mixture just to coat the bottom.
- Place a layer of pasta over the meat mixture.
- Spread some of the cottage/ricotta cheese mixture over the pasta. Add some more of the meat mixture so it evenly covers the cottage/ricotta cheese mixture. Sprinkle with some mozzarella.
- Repeat steps 2 & 3 Two more times.
- All your meat and cheese mixtures should be used at this time. I also like to top the mozzarella with some parmesan cheese as well.
- Cover with some foil and bake for about 45 minutes. After 45 minutes, take the foil off and bake an additional 10 to 15 minutes to brown and melt the top layer of cheese. After baking you’re going to want to let it sit for 5 or so minutes before cutting.
This simple Italian lasagna was a hit and it was easy to make. Modify the recipe as you see fit. As is, it is a pretty hefty lasagna. Oh and also, you can make this one ahead of time and store in the frig for a day. Just pull it out and pop it in the oven when you’re ready. Enjoy.