Mom’s Famous Lasagna

Sean Abreu, Council District 7:
Manhattan Valley, Manhattanville, Morningside Heights, Hamilton Heights

Every family has their own unique Thanksgiving traditions and family recipes. When I think of our annual Abreu celebration, I am immediately brought to the smell coming from my mother’s kitchen as she takes her famous lasagna out of the oven. I know, this is far from a customary Thanksgiving dish. But trust me – there is nothing that brings family together on the fourth Thursday of November better than warm, thick noodles coated in cheese and tomato sauce.

 
 

Ingredients

  • 1 pound of lasagna pasta

  • 1 pound of ground beef or sausage

  • 1 onion, chopped

  • 3 cloves of garlic, minced

  • 2 cups of tomato sauce

  • 1 can of crushed tomatoes

  • 1 teaspoon of dried oregano

  • 1 teaspoon of dried basil

  • 1/2 teaspoon of salt

  • 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper

  • 2 cups of ricotta cheese

  • 1 cup of grated Parmesan cheese

  • 2 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese

  • 1 egg

  • Fresh parsley, chopped

Directions

  • Cook lasagna noodles until al dente. Drain, rinse in cold water, and set aside.

  • Preheat the oven to 375°F.

  • In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook ground beef or sausage and onion until browned and cooked through. Add garlic and cook for an additional 30 seconds.

  • Add tomato sauce, crushed tomatoes, oregano, basil, salt, and pepper to the skillet. Bring mixture to a low simmer and cook for 10 minutes.

  • In a separate bowl, mix together ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese, 1 cup of mozzarella cheese, and egg.

  • Spread a thin layer of sauce on the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking dish. Top with a single layer of lasagna noodles then spread a layer of the cheese mixture on top of the noodles. Add another layer of sauce, followed by more noodles and cheese.

  • Repeat layering with noodles, cheese mixture, and sauce until all ingredients are used up. Top with the remaining mozzarella cheese.

  • Cover the baking dish with foil and bake for 25 minutes. Remove foil and bake for an additional 25 minutes, or until the cheese is golden and bubbly.

  • Remove the lasagna from the oven and let cool for 10 minutes before slicing. Garnish with fresh parsley if desired, and serve hot. Enjoy!

 

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