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No Ziti for Dinner?—Because it’s National Lasagna Day

By Julia DiMarcello 

Are you finding yourself in a similar position as AJ? You will not be eating your favorite dish for dinner. Or better yet, you don’t even know what you're eating tonight. Don’t fret, it’s National Lasagna Day and Tony’s got the perfect recipes for you.


We can’t have ziti or penne this evening. We absolutely can’t have ramen tonight either. You have the perfect opportunity on this lucky day to cook up a baked tray of lasagna for you and your family, for you and some friends, or even just for yourself. 


Let’s get to it. Classic. We love classic, don’t we? Courtesy of The Wholesome Dish, we found a great classic lasagna recipe for you. 


INGREDIENTS:

  • 1 lb. ground meat
  • 1/2 lb. sweet Italian sausage
  • 1 medium onion -chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves -minced
  • 1 (15 oz.) can tomato sauce
  • 1 (15 oz.) can crushed tomatoes
  • 2 (6 oz.) cans tomato paste
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 3 teaspoons salt -divided
  • 3 teaspoons Italian seasoning -divided
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons dried basil leaves -divided
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1/4 cup minced fresh flat-leaf parsley -divided
  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese -divided
  • 15 oz. (1 3/4 cups) whole milk Ricotta cheese
  • 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese -divided
  • 1 large egg
  • 12 lasagna noodles

INSTRUCTIONS:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  2. Make the meat sauce. Add beef and sausage to a large skillet over medium-high heat, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon. Add the onion and garlic. Cook until meat is browned, about 6-8 minutes. Drain the fat from the meat. Return the meat to the skillet.
  3. Add the tomato sauce, crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, water, sugar, 2 teaspoons salt, 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning, 1 teaspoon basil, and the black pepper. Stir until well combined. Cover and reduce the heat to low. Simmer the sauce for 30 minutes. Stir in 2 tablespoons of the minced parsley.
  4. As the sauce cooks, make the ricotta mixture. In a large bowl, add 1 cup mozzarella, the ricotta, 1/4 cup parmesan, 2 tablespoons of the parsley, the egg, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, and 1/2 teaspoon basil. Stir until well incorporated.
  5. Cook the pasta al dente, according to it’s package directions.
  6. Assemble the lasagna. In a 13x9 inch baking dish, add a very thin layer of meat sauce (about 1/4 cup). Layer 3 lasagna noodles, 1/3 of the ricotta mixture, and 1 1/2 (level) cups of meat sauce. Repeat the layers twice.
  7. Add a final layer of the remaining noodles, meat sauce, 1 cup mozzarella, and 1/4 cup parmesan.
  8. Cover with foil that has been sprayed with nonstick cooking spray. Bake for 45 minutes. Remove the foil. Bake 15 more minutes.
  9. Let the lasagna cool for 15-20 minutes before cutting.

To read more about this recipe, click here. 


Let’s be real. It doesn’t hurt to sometimes move out of your comfort zone. There is no need to observe this unique holiday strictly by the classic Italian rules. Feel free to attempt these other special lasagna recipes that include seafood or vegetables.


Seafood Lasagna: 

https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/seafood-lasagna/


Portobello Mushroom Lasagna: 

https://www.cdkitchen.com/recipes/recs/1325/portobello-mushroom-lasagna143612.shtml


Vegetarian Spinach and Mushroom Lasagna: 

https://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/vegetarian_spinach_and_mushroom_lasagna/ 


Last but not least, don’t forget to leave a slice for Tony. 

Buon Appetito!


A Presto.