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Linda's Lasagna Recipe

This is my mother's wonderful lasagna recipe. It has been a favorite in our family for years!
Print Recipe
Prep Time 45 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 45 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 30 minutes
Course lunch/dinner
Cuisine Italian
Servings 8 people
Calories 4380.6 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 Large Stockpot For cooking the meat sauce
  • 1 Large Pot For boiling lasagna noodles
  • 1 9x13 inch Baking Dish Standard size for lasagna
  • 1 Immersion Blender or Food Processor For blending the cheese mixture smoothly
  • 1 Colander For draining cooked lasagna noodles

Ingredients
  

Main

  • 1 pound lean ground beef
  • 1 onion chopped
  • 2 6 ounce cans tomato paste
  • 1 14.5 ounce can crushed tomatoes
  • 2 cups water
  • 1 tablespoon dried oregano
  • 2 teaspoons garlic powder
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon white sugar
  • 12 ounces cottage cheese
  • ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 egg
  • 9 lasagna noodles
  • 1 pound shredded mozzarella cheese

Instructions
 

  • In a large pot over medium heat, cook beef until brown. Drain off all fat. Add onion and cook until translucent. Add tomato paste, crushed tomatoes, water, oregano, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and sugar. Stir until combined and cook over medium heat until boiling. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 1 hour.
  • While sauce is simmering, blend cottage cheese, Parmesan cheese, and egg until smooth. Set aside.
  • Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.
  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
  • Spread 1 cup of sauce in the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking dish. Cover sauce with 3 noodles. Cover noodles with 1/3 of the remaining sauce. Top with 1/2 of the mozzarella. Place another layer of noodles and one of sauce over the mozzarella; top that with the cottage cheese mixture. Top with remaining 3 noodles and remaining sauce.
  • Bake in preheated oven 30 minutes. Sprinkle remaining mozzarella on top and bake 15 minutes more, until golden and bubbly. Unknown

Notes

For a richer flavor in your meat sauce, consider browning the ground beef thoroughly before adding onions, ensuring all fat is rendered and drained. Allow the sauce to simmer for the full hour, or even longer on a very low heat, as this truly deepens the flavors. When cooking the lasagna noodles, aim for a firm 'al dente' texture; they will continue to cook in the oven and overcooked noodles can result in a mushy final dish. To achieve a perfectly set lasagna that slices cleanly, let it rest for at least 15-20 minutes after baking before serving. This allows the cheese and sauce to firm up. A pinch of nutmeg in the cottage cheese mixture can also elevate its profile.