paula's lasagna

Ingredients

• Servings: 12
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 pounds lean ground beef
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 5 cups hot water
• 24 ounces tomato paste
• 1 pound lasagna noodles
• 1 pound shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
• 8 ounces ricotta cheese

Recipe

Preparation Time: 25 mins Cook Time: 2 hrs

Ready Time: 2 hrs 35 mins


• preheat oven to 375 degrees f (190 degrees c).
• heat olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. saute onion and garlic in hot oil until soft and translucent, 5 to 7 minutes. add ground beef to onion mixture; cook and stir until beef is browned and crumbly, 5 to 7 minutes. stir salt, basil, oregano, rosemary, and ground black pepper into beef mixture.
• whisk water and tomato paste together in a large bowl. pour tomato paste mixture into beef mixture, bring to a simmer, and cook until sauce is slightly reduced and flavors blend, about 1 hour.
• bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. cook lasagna in the boiling water, stirring occasionally until cooked through but firm to the bite, about 8 minutes. rinse in cold water and drain.
• measure out 1 cup mozzarella cheese and set aside.
• spread about 1/3 the sauce in the bottom of a 9 1/2x15-inch baking dish. arrange lasagna noodles in a single layer over the sauce, top with 1/2 the ricotta cheese, and 1/2 the remaining mozzarella cheese. spread 1/3 the sauce over the cheese, top with remaining lasagna noodles, 1/2 the ricotta cheese, and 1/2 mozzarella cheese. spread last 1/3 the sauce over the top.
• bake lasagna in the preheated oven for 25 minutes. sprinkle reserved 1 cup mozzarella cheese over the top. bake until cheese is melted and lasagna is heated through and bubbling, about 15 minutes more. cool for 10 minutes.