How to Make a Mean Lasagna

Use the following recipe for a healthy family favorite. Read on to learn more.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Oven-ready lasagna noodles
• 1 2-inch think container of light ricotta cheese
• 2 eggs
• 4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• Parmesan cheese
• 1 lb. lean ground beef
• 1 large jar of meat sauce
• 1 large can or 2 small (14 oz.) cans of stewed tomatoes
• 3/4 of a large can of tomato paste
• Pinch of parsley
• Pinch of garlic
• Pinch of basil

1. Brown ground beef.
2. Once browned, combine meat in a large pan with meat sauce, stewed tomatoes, tomato paste, parsley, garlic and basil.
3. Cook sauce mixture on medium heat, stirring occasionally, for 30-45 minutes.
4. In a separate bowl mix ricotta cheese and eggs.
5. Lightly coat the bottom of a 9-by-13 inch pan with some of the sauce.
6. Put first layer of noodles in pan (3 to 6, depending on length and width).
7. Spread ricotta mixture onto noodles.
8. Add a layer of meat sauce.
9. Add mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
10. Repeat layers 2 more times.
11. Cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees F for an hour.

Tips & Warnings

• If using ready-made noodles, make and refrigerate few hours in advance of baking. This allows the noodles to soften and better absorb the flavors.
• When covering with foil, add toothpicks in the center and at each end to keep the foil from touching the lasagna and stripping it of cheese.