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Preparation
30 minutes
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Cooking
1 hour
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Difficulty
Easy
Have you ever heard of the dish lasagna – a type of pasta from Italian cuisine? Today, let TasteVN take you into the kitchen to try your hand at making this unique dish with a simple, easy-to-follow recipe that is just right!
Ingredients for Lasagna For 4 people
Ground beef 700 g Ricotta cheese 450 g Shredded Mozzarella cheese 450 g Parmesan cheese 20 g (sprinkled on top) Egg 1 piece Onion 1 bulb (diced) Minced garlic 2 teaspoons Canned crushed tomatoes 400 g Tomato sauce 800 g Tomato paste 170 g (depending on type) Lasagna sheets 12 g Olive oil 2 tablespoons
How to choose fresh, delicious ingredients
How to choose good lasagna sheets
You can buy them at imported goods stores or specialized e-commerce sites selling food on the internet. When buying, note that there are 2 types of lasagna sheets: one type needs to be boiled before use and another type that does not need to be boiled and can be placed directly on the tray; the pasta will soften automatically when baked.
How to choose good tomato sauce
You can buy canned types or make it at home. You can refer to the tomato sauce recipe from TasteVN here.
You can also use 1 liter of pre-made pasta sauce instead of using 3 different tomato products to make a simple sauce.
How to choose fresh, delicious beef
You can buy minced beef, pre-ground, or buy it home to chop yourself. Fresh, delicious beef should have a bright red color, and the fat should be yellow and firm, avoiding soft fat. Choose small, tender cuts of beef, and do not buy large, tough cuts. Finally, you should press your hand on the cut of beef; if it does not stick to your hand and has no foul smell, it is good beef.
How to choose cheese for topping
Besides Parmesan cheese, you can also choose shredded Romano or cheddar cheese for topping, depending on your taste.
Tools needed
How to Make Lasagna
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Boil the Lasagna noodles
Boil a pot of water, add a little salt, then add the noodles inside and boil according to the time stated on the box, usually about 10 – 12 minutes. Stir frequently every 1 – 2 minutes.
After boiling, check the noodles. The noodles should be chewy and soft, but not mushy. Drain the water and wait for the noodles to cool.
Note:
- Make sure the noodles are not torn because you will need whole noodles to layer into a complete dish.
- Use a large pot, fill it with water up to about 2/3 of the pot to fully submerge the noodles.
- Check the information on the noodle box; if it says “Oven ready,” it means this type of noodle does not need to be boiled and can be placed directly in the oven.
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Make the beef tomato sauce
Add one tablespoon of olive oil to the pan, then add diced onions and minced garlic, stirring for about 2 – 3 minutes until the onions are translucent, without fully cooking them.
Add 450g of ground beef to the pan and stir over medium heat until the meat turns golden brown. Add salt and black pepper to taste while cooking.
Note: At this step, you can add 1/2 tablespoon of dried oregano, basil, or rosemary, or just 1 tablespoon of Italian seasoning for a more authentic flavor.
Add the sautéed meat to a large pot, then add 800g of tomato sauce, 400g of crushed tomatoes, and 170g of concentrated tomato sauce to the meat mixture and stir well. Simmer the sauce over medium heat until it is gently bubbling.
Let the sauce simmer for about 10 – 15 minutes; the longer the sauce cooks, the richer the flavor will be. Stir frequently and scrape the bottom of the pot to prevent the sauce from burning. When the sauce thickens, turn off the heat, remove the pot from the stove, and let it cool gradually.
Note:
- You can add any spices like garlic powder, sugar, or other seasonings, one teaspoon of each, to the sauce mixture if you want a richer flavor. Adding sugar is to balance the natural acidity of the tomatoes.
- It is not necessary to wait for the sauce to cool completely before proceeding to the next step, but cooled sauce will make it easier for you to handle.
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Make ricotta cheese sauce
Beat one egg, then add 450g of ricotta cheese and stir well until it thickens, completing the sauce.
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Layering the lasagna
Line a baking tray with a sheet of aluminum foil.
Then add enough ground beef tomato sauce to cover the bottom completely. Next, layer the lasagna sheets on top so that the pasta covers the bottom of the tray (about 3 sheets).
Continue by pouring 1/3 of the cheese sauce to cover the pasta. Add more ground beef tomato sauce, and finally sprinkle a generous amount of mozzarella cheese on top to finish the first layer.
Continue layering the pasta, ricotta, ground beef tomato sauce, and mozzarella until all the prepared ingredients are used up.
For the final layer, sprinkle some grated fresh Parmesan or Romano cheese on the surface of the dish before placing it in the oven.
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Baking the lasagna
Preheat the oven for 15 minutes at 200 degrees Celsius to stabilize the temperature.
Cover the lasagna with a layer of aluminum foil before placing it in the oven. Bake the tray for about 30 – 40 minutes at 190 degrees Celsius. Remove the foil during the last 5 minutes to brown the cheese on top.
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Completion
Take the lasagna out of the oven, cut it into bite-sized pieces, and serve on a plate to enjoy!
It is advisable to wait about 10 minutes before eating the lasagna. This time will help the cheese to set slightly so that the layers do not separate when you eat, making the lasagna taste better.
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Final Product
The lasagna dish is attractively layered with a captivating aroma that draws everyone in. When eaten, you can taste the rich flavors of the various ingredients blending together.
The lasagna noodles are chewy and soft, while the creamy ricotta sauce is balanced by the sweet and tangy tomato sauce, making the dish cheesy without being overly rich!
Tips on how to store lasagna
Leftover food can be placed in the refrigerator for later consumption; when eating, just put it in the microwave or oven to heat it up and it will be ready to eat. The dish is best enjoyed within 2 – 3 days.
Tips for making lasagna
- Lasagna may turn into soup if wet ricotta cheese is used. Therefore, strain the cheese through a cloth or sieve to remove excess water, then place the ricotta cheese in the refrigerator; it will drain for 24 hours.
- Cook the meat completely before adding it to the lasagna.
- You can add vegetables such as carrots, celery, bell peppers,… to the meat sauce to make the lasagna more colorful and flavorful.
See more:
Above is a guide on how to make simple lasagna at home. Let’s give it a try! Wishing you success!
*Source of recipe and images from wikihow.vn
