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Slice of lasagna on a plate with basil

Meat Sauce Lasagna

Classic lasagna recipe using a modified version of Marcella Hazan's authentic bolognese sauce.
Prep Time:30 minutes
Cook Time:2 hours
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: Dinner, Pasta, Sauce
Servings: 8

Ingredients

  • 12 lasagna noodles
  • 2 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella
  • 1/4 cup grated parmesan

Meat Sauce

  • 1 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 1/2 cup chopped onion
  • 1/2 cup chopped carrots
  • 1/2 cup chopped celery
  • 1 pound ground beef chuck Or you can use a mix of ground beef and ground pork.
  • salt and pepper
  • 1/2 cup whole milk
  • 1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
  • 1/2 cup dry white wine
  • 1 1/2 cups canned plum tomatoes cut up with juice Italian tomatoes preferred

Cheese Mixture

  • 2 cups ricotta cheese
  • 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella
  • 1/4 cup grated parmesan
  • 1 egg beaten
  • 1/4 cup fresh parsley chopped

Instructions

Meat Sauce

  • Put oil and chopped onion in pot and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the onions are translucent.
  • Add celery and carrots and cook for 2 minutes.
  • Add beef, a large pinch of salt, and a few grindings of pepper. Cook until the beef is just browned.
  • Add milk and simmer, stirring frequently, until absorbed.
  • Add nutmeg and stir.
  • Add wine and simmer until evaporated.
  • Stir in tomatoes and when they begin to bubble, turn down to a low simmer.
  • Cook for 1 hour uncovered (or longer if desired). If sauce dries out while cooking, add 1/2 cup of water, but make sure to cook off so no water is left at the end.

Lasagna

  • Heat oven to 350°F.
  • Cook lasagna noodles, strain, and set aside.
  • Combine the cheese mixture ingredients in a bowl. Stir until mixed.
  • Layer the lasagna ingredients in a 9x13 pan. Add 1 cup of meat sauce to the bottom, followed by 3 lasagna noodles, and a third of the cheese mixture. Repeat twice and top with lasagna noodles and sauce.
  • Bake for 45 minutes covered with foil. Top with remaining cheese and bake uncovered for another 13 minutes.
  • Set broiler to high and bake an additional 2 minutes or until cheese is golden brown.
  • Remove lasagna from oven and let rest for 15 minutes.