Lasagna was one of my all time favorite childhood meals. I had been holding off trying to make one by myself for some reason but the cravings finally got the better of me and I had to make one. A lasagna at its base is a dish that is made of layers of sheets of pasta with various fillings in between each layer. The more common lasagne often have layers of tomato sauce or meat sauce and layers of cheese. The cheese layers are often made from ricotta or a bechamel sauce but I had always had it made with cottage cheese so that is how I decided to go with mine. For the meat sauce I kept it simple and I added some ground beef to a simple marinara sauce . I also had some leftover Italian sausage in the freezer that needed finishing so I added those as well. I like using Italian in soups and sauces as they add a ton of flavour. With that I pretty much had everything. Because you have to make a meat sauce and a cheese mixture and cook the noodles and assemble the lasagna and then bake it, it takes a bit of effort and time and it is best suited for a weekend. Despite the effort that it takes it is well worth it! It is really hard to beat a baked pasta dish with a golden brown layer of melted cheese on top. Layers of a tasty tomato and meat sauce and layers of savoury melted gooey cheese make it even better. I served my lasagna with some garlic bread and a salad. One of the things that I like most about making lasagna is all of the leftovers. I have enough leftovers for lunches and dinners for the rest of the week and beyond. This will be a tasty week indeed.
Lasagna
Noodles, cheese and a tasty tomato and meat sauce are layered and topped with more cheese and baked until the cheese has melted.
ingredients
- 1/2 pound ground beef
- 1/2 pound Italian sausage, casings removed and crumbled
- 1 batch easy marinara sauce
- 8 ounces lasagne noodles (gluten free for gluten free)
- 2 eggs
- 2 cups cottage cheese
- 1 cup parmigiano reggiano (parmesan), grated
- 3 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
directions
- Brown the meat in a large sauce pan, drain off any excess grease and mix into the marinara sauce.
- Boil the noodles as directed on the package.
- Mix the eggs, cottage cheese and parmigiano reggiano in a large bowl.
- Spread 1/2 cup of the meat sauce over the bottom of a baking dish*.
- Place a layer of noodles on top.
- Place 1/2 of the cottage cheese mixture on top.
- Place 1/3 of the mozzarella on top.
- Place 1/3 of the meat sauce top.
- Place a layer of noodles on top.
- Place the remaining cottage cheese mixture on top.
- Place 1/3 of the mozzarella on top.
- Place 1/3 of the meat sauce top.
- Place a layer of noodles on top.
- Place the remaining meat sauce top.
- Place the remaining mozzarella and parmigiano reggiano on top.
- Bake in a preheated 350F/180C oven until bubbling on the sides and golden brown on top, about 30-45 minutes.
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Not Another Omnivore says
My mother is famous in my circle of friends for her lasagna. It’s what gets all of us together whenever she comes to visit. This makes me miss her. I was interested to see what cheeses you use…I love when cottage cheese makes it in.
NAOmni
Ruth Daniels says
The very first dinner party I ever gave (I was 16) was lasagna, garlic bread and Caesar salad. Thanks for bringing it all back to me and thanks for sharing with Presto Pasta Nights.
Lisa says
One of my favorites!
VeggieGirl says
Can’t go wrong with lasagna!!
Bridgett says
Lasagna makes everything in life better. Yours looks delicious!
Dana McCauley says
That lasagna looks sensational! I find meaty lasagna a bit filling so I usually make mine without meat. The secret to keeping it rich tasting is to stir shredded cheese into the sauce.
You can check out my recipe here:
http://www.homemakers.com/Home/news/october-2007-blog-entries-n239678p4.html
Sharon says
Oh yes, love the leftovers too! Send some over Kevin! =D
MaryBeth says
My husband makes the best lasagna I have ever had…but yours sure does look fabulous.
Debbie Yost says
Finally, someone that uses cottage cheese in their lasagna! I grew up with it made that way and it’s my favorite. I can’t wait to try this recipe out.
Joie de vivre says
Even though it is hard work, it makes huge portions too so you’ll have leftovers for three days!
Cathy - wheresmydamnanswer says
Lasagne is a staple in this house – I make a big batch and divide and freeze. Always tastes great –
Sharon says
Lasagna is always wonderful comfort food. Yours looks quite tasty and reminds me of bundling up in the winter and eating hearty foods!
Elra says
Sounds so delicious Kevin. My whole family love lasagna.
Cheers,
Elra
Bobby says
Lasagna rocks! I could seriously eat it everynight. Yours looks delicious. Nice photo as well, lasagna can be a challenge 😐
StickyGooeyCreamyChewy says
Beautiful lasagna! And it is usually even better the next day.
Your freezer must be like a culinary Black Hole! I’m fascinated by the things you keep pulling out of there! 😉
Rosa's Yummy Yums says
It is also one of my all time favorite childhood meals! Your lasagna look ever sooooo good!
Cheers,
Rosa
Anonymous says
Hi Kevin
Can I use something else in place of the cottage cheese, which I do not like.
David says
Ricotta with an egg or two
Miette says
I love lasagna with white sauce. I will try your recipe because it looks tasty !
Cheers,
Miette
Kitt says
Looks fab! I am such a cheater; I usually don’t precook the noodles and I use jarred sauce, but it’s still “homemade” enough.
Lasagna’s so versatile, too; you can add all kinds of crazy stuff. My favorite last fall was swiss chard lasagna.
Anonymous says
The lasagna looks beautiful! You are right about the leftovers…I had made it once…lasted us for 3 days 🙂
Jan says
Yummy yum yum – lasagne! Yours looks good!
Amy says
Lasagna is one of my favorite meals. I love that it makes lots of leftovers as well!
Cheryl says
Good god Kevin, that looks like the most delicious Lasagna in the world! I use cottage cheese as well!
Anonymous says
Hey the Lasagna looks amazing..
Beachlover says
Kevin ,this lasagna look good!!
Sophie says
Kevin, this lasagna your style looks so appetizing!!! MMMM…
Jennifer says
Nothing beats a classic lasagna!!! Yours looks delicious!!
Theresa says
Your lasagna look delicious. And crispy pieces too, my favorite!!!!
Gloria says
Kevin, your lasagna look really fantastic as always!!! xGloria
Marie says
Your lasagna looks very tasty indeed Kevin. I can see I missed a lot of good cookin whilst I was away in America. Everything on your page looks delicious!
Ben says
Lasagna is one of my favorite dishes, too. Great picture!
lisaiscooking says
It’s definitely hard to beat a baked pasta dish, and that’s a great looking piece of lasagna!
Grace says
lasagna is an ulitmate comfort food for me, and i like the way you do it. frankly, i find comfort just looking at it. 🙂
Mila says
Kevin this looks great! I love how cheesy it is! Of coarse, beautiful picture…
Lo says
Mmm. Kevin. Isn’t comfort food wonderful? Lasagne is also one of my favorite foods to make — so therapeutic! The process is a bit like a meditation when you do it from scratch.
The Food Hunter says
Your lasagna looks great. I’m sure it’s worth all the hard work.
Dawn says
And lasagna is so hard to photograph too! But you totally nailed it.
Marjie says
My grandmother made the most awesome lasagna on the planet. I’ve never tried it. Yours looks great!
Esi says
I love that you can change up lasagna so many ways. This is a great base version
Maria says
Lasagna is always good!! I never get sick of it because there are so many variations!
Judy says
Thank you for not using the no-boil noodles. I find them totally distasteful. My Italian hubby would cringe at the thought of cottage cheese in lasagne, though. One nice thing about lasagne is that you can make it, then freeze in small baking dishes. Yes, it’s a lot of work, but if you make a big batch and freeze you’ve got some great meals waiting for you.
Pam says
It’s worth all that effort because you can eat it for days and days and days!
Hillary says
I found this post at the perfect time – I premade lasagna last night to serve tonight. I made a spinach and mushroom lasagna as we can’t mix meat and milk in our kitchen. But yours looks outstanding and I do always crave a meat sauce lasagna. Nice job.
Anonymous says
Isn’t this dish called lasagne since there are more than one sheets of lasagna? I think so. I’m sure of it, actually.
The picture of the lasagne looks absolutely perfect. You rock!
zerrin says
I always fail at cooking lasagna. But yours seems scrumptious. Maybe it encourages me to try once more.
Cafe Johnsonia says
When I die, my last meal better include Lasagna. That looks amazing, Kevin.
James says
Cold lasagne sandwiches all round…..
ChichaJo says
My mom makes her lasagna with cottage cheese so I like that too! 🙂 This is definitely one of our (my hubby loves it!) favorite dishes!
Kevin says
Anonymous: You can use ricotta cheese instead of the cottage cheese if you prefer.
tamilyn says
Oh, I could go for a nice big cheesy piece right this instant 🙂
Bellini Valli says
This is one exceptional looking lasagna Kevin. You have me thinking for what to make for dinner:D
Katie says
It is one of my favorite meals as well! Its so versatile too!
Deborah says
My mom always made cottage cheese lasagna, so this reminds me of my childhood!
Karen says
I could eat this every day for a week, too!
Culinary Cory says
This is one of my favorite dishes ever. Yours looks great.
katiez says
That looks like a perfect lasagne! I switched to bechamel from cottage cheese – ’cause I can’t get it here…
dishesdone says
Never had it with cottage cheese! It looks fantastic! Can’t wait to try your recipe! Thanks!
Julie says
These pictures just sent my hunger into overdrive. Yum!
Pam says
Mmmm. Lasagna. Looks delicious!
Y says
That’s one very photogenic lasagne! 🙂 I haven’t made lasagne in ages – mostly because the weather is still quite warm here. My mom used to make it quite often and my favourite part was always the slightly crispy edges.
TheRoosterChick says
I've never tried my hand at Lasagna, but that sooo looks worth the effort.
Anonymous says
Man! This lasagna is a killer..
Steve says
Hey man, absolutely love your site, and great photos too! My lass and I love to make your okonomiyaki.
With lasagne, I like to add a little smoked paprika in to the mix too.
One more thing, you are a genius!!!
dsmith says
My boyfriend and I have started a tradition of making one of you recipes for Saturday night dinner. We had your lasagna this week and it was amazing!!! It was even better as leftovers =)
Kitcheinstein says
Hi! I have the same problem as you (well actually you have evolved), making the same few dishes over and over. The difference is I have not yet really gotten up the muster to get in there and make new things. 🙂