Ultimate Layered Lasagna Delight
Indulge in the richness of my Ultimate Layered Lasagna Delight, perfected over decades of cooking for family and friends. This lasagna combines layers of savory ground meats, creamy ricotta, aromatic herbs, and a delightful marinara sauce, ensuring every bite is a burst of flavor. It's a hearty dish that's perfect for gatherings or a cozy family dinner. With each forkful, you'll experience the love and tradition that has gone into crafting what many call the best lasagna ever. Ready your deep baking dish and prepare to impress your guests!
N/A
Servings
N/A
Calories
28
Ingredients
Ingredients
Lasagna Noodles
1 lb (package)
Ground Beef
3/4 lb (ground)
Ground Pork
1/4 lb (ground)
Italian Sausage
1 lb (thinly sliced)
Button Mushrooms
1 lb (thinly sliced)
Onion
1 cup (chopped)
Garlic Cloves
6 (minced)
Sugar
2 teaspoons (granulated)
Salt
1 tablespoon (to taste)
Dried Basil
1 teaspoon (dried)
Fennel Seed
1/2 teaspoon (ground)
Ground Black Pepper
1/4 teaspoon (freshly ground)
Eggs
2 (lightly beaten)
Ricotta Cheese
2 (15 oz) containers (fresh)
Dried Parsley Flakes
2 tablespoons (dried)
Pitted Ripe Black Olives
1 cup (sliced)
Mozzarella Cheese
1 lb (shredded)
Parmesan Cheese
1 cup (grated)
Hunts Chunky Crushed Tomatoes
2 (14.5 oz) cans (canned)
Hunts Tomato Paste
2 (6 oz) cans (canned)
Stewed Tomatoes (Italian style)
1 cup (canned)
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1/4 cup (liquid)
Garlic Cloves
6 (cut in halves)
Chopped Garlic (in juice)
1 teaspoon (jarred)
Shallot
1 (diced)
Dried Oregano
2 tablespoons (dried)
Dried Italian Seasoning
4 tablespoons (dried)
Granulated Sugar
1 tablespoon (to taste)
Instructions
1
Begin by preparing the lasagna noodles according to package directions. If using no-boil noodles, ensure they do not stick out during layering.
2
In a skillet, cook the Italian sausage until browned, then thinly slice it crosswise and set aside.
3
In a separate skillet, brown the ground beef and ground pork until cooked through. Drain the excess fat.
4
Add chopped onion and minced garlic to the skillet with the ground meats. Cook for an additional 5 minutes until the onions are soft.
5
Stir in sugar, salt, dried basil, fennel seeds, ground black pepper, and the marinara sauce. Let it simmer for 20 minutes.
6
While the meat sauce simmers, mix together the lightly beaten eggs, ricotta cheese, and dried parsley in a large bowl.
7
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Spray the bottom of a 13x9 inch baking dish with non-stick spray.
8
Begin assembling the lasagna by spooning 1/3 of the meat sauce into the prepared baking dish.
9
Layer 1/3 of the lasagna noodles over the meat sauce, followed by 1/3 of the ricotta mixture, 1/3 of the sliced olives, 1/3 of the Italian sausage, 1/3 of the mushrooms, and 1/3 of the mozzarella and parmesan cheeses.
10
Repeat the layering process until all ingredients are used, finishing with a layer of mozzarella and parmesan on top.
11
Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil, making sure it doesn't touch the cheese, then bake for 25 minutes.
12
Remove the foil and bake uncovered for another 25 minutes until the top is golden and bubbly.
13
Allow the lasagna to rest for 10 minutes before slicing to maintain its structure. Serve warm and enjoy!
Nutrition Information
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Ultimate Layered Lasagna Delight?
It is a rich, hearty lasagna perfected over decades, featuring layers of Italian sausage, ground beef, ground pork, ricotta cheese, aromatic herbs, and marinara sauce.
How many types of meat are used in this lasagna?
This recipe uses three types of meat: Italian sausage, ground beef, and ground pork.
How should the Italian sausage be prepared?
The Italian sausage should be cooked in a skillet until browned and then thinly sliced crosswise.
What kind of lasagna noodles are recommended?
You can use standard lasagna noodles prepared according to package directions or no-boil noodles.
What is the tip for using no-boil lasagna noodles?
Ensure that the no-boil noodles do not stick out during the layering process to ensure they cook evenly.
Which vegetables and fungi are included in the layers?
The recipe includes button mushrooms, chopped onions, minced garlic, and sliced black olives.
What aromatics are cooked with the ground meats?
Chopped onion and minced garlic are cooked with the browned ground beef and pork for about 5 minutes.
What seasonings are added to the meat sauce?
The sauce is seasoned with sugar, salt, dried basil, fennel seeds, and ground black pepper.
How long should the meat sauce simmer?
The meat sauce should simmer for 20 minutes after the marinara sauce and seasonings are added.
What ingredients are in the ricotta mixture?
The mixture consists of two 15 oz containers of ricotta cheese, two lightly beaten eggs, and dried parsley flakes.
What is the purpose of adding eggs to the ricotta?
The eggs are lightly beaten and mixed with the ricotta to help bind the cheese layer during baking.
At what temperature should the lasagna be baked?
The oven should be preheated and set to 375°F (190°C).
What size baking dish is needed?
A deep 13x9 inch baking dish is required for this recipe.
Should I grease the baking dish?
Yes, you should spray the bottom of the dish with non-stick spray before assembly.
How do you begin the assembly of the lasagna?
Start by spooning 1/3 of the meat sauce into the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
What is the specific order of the layers?
The layers consist of meat sauce, noodles, ricotta mixture, sliced olives, sliced sausage, mushrooms, and finally mozzarella and parmesan cheeses.
How many times is the layering process repeated?
The process is repeated until all ingredients are used, usually resulting in three complete layers.
What cheese goes on the very top of the lasagna?
The lasagna is finished with a final layer of shredded mozzarella and grated parmesan cheese.
How should the lasagna be covered for baking?
Cover the dish with aluminum foil, ensuring the foil does not touch the cheese on top.
How long does the lasagna bake while covered?
It should bake covered for 25 minutes.
How long does the lasagna bake uncovered?
After removing the foil, bake it uncovered for an additional 25 minutes.
How do you know when the lasagna is done?
The lasagna is ready when the top is golden and the sauce is bubbly.
Why must the lasagna rest after baking?
Allowing it to rest helps the layers set so it maintains its structure when sliced.
How long should the lasagna rest before serving?
It is recommended to let the lasagna rest for 10 minutes before slicing.
What type of tomatoes are used in the sauce?
The recipe calls for chunky crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, and Italian-style stewed tomatoes.
What variety of olives are used?
The recipe uses 1 cup of sliced pitted ripe black olives.
What kind of oil is included in the ingredient list?
Extra virgin olive oil is used in the preparation of the sauce.
Does the recipe use fresh or dried herbs?
It uses a variety of dried herbs, including basil, parsley, oregano, and Italian seasoning.
What specific brand of tomatoes is mentioned?
The recipe mentions Hunts brand for both the chunky crushed tomatoes and the tomato paste.
How much garlic is used in total?
The recipe uses 6 minced cloves, 6 halved cloves, and 1 teaspoon of jarred chopped garlic in juice.