Contadina Classic Lasagna Recipes

TRADITIONAL CANADIAN LASAGNA

Steps:

• Brown the beef with the garlic; stir to break into small pieces of meat
• Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper
• Add 4 cups cooked beef to 2 cups homemade tomato sauce; combine well
• Check again for seasoning
• Wring frozen spinach inside a thick tea towel until all liquid is dispelled
• Combine all ingredients
• Spread 1/2 cup Homemade Tomato Sauce onto the bottom of the pan; it will be sparse
• Place 4 lasagna noodles on top of the sauce (these will fit perfectly in the 11 x 13 inch casserole pan)
• Spread 1 cup of meat sauce very sparsely over the noodles; cover with 4 lasagna noodles
• Spread 1 1/4 cups of meat sauce very sparsely over the second layer of noodles; cover this layer of meat sauce with mozzarella cheese slices
• Cover the cheese slices with 4 lasagna noodles (at this point, you will need a couple of half pieces of noodles and ends if your casserole dish fans outwards as the surface area grows with each layer)
• Spread the entire cottage cheese and spinach mixture over the third layer of lasagna noodles; top this with another layer of lasagna noodles
• Cover the last layer of lasagna noodles with 1 1/2 cup of meat sauce, sparsely distributed over the noodles (if you have enough room, make one more layer of noodles and a final layer of meat sauce)
• The meat sauce will be the top of the lasagna; cover that with generous slices of mozzarella cheese
• Wrap tightly in plastic wrap; date and label; freeze for future use
• Bake frozen in 350 degree oven for 2 to 2 1/2 hours until bubbly and cheese on top just starts to brown (cover with tented foil while still baking, to avoid over browning, if necessary)
• Preheat oven to 350F
• Bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes until bubbly and cheese on top just starts to brown (cover with tented foil while still baking, to avoid over browning, if necessary)
• If you have a lot left over, portion into individual pieces, wrap well, label, date and freeze and these make great individual lunches

BAREFOOT CONTESSA'S LASAGNA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Heat the olive oil in a large (10 to 12-inch) skillet. Add the onion and cook for 5 minutes over medium-low heat, until translucent. Add the garlic and cook for 1 more minute. Add the sausage and cook over medium-low heat, breaking it up with a fork, for 8 to 10 minutes, or until no longer pink. Add the tomatoes, tomato paste, 2 tablespoons of the parsley, the basil, 1½ teaspoons of the salt, and ½ teaspoon pepper. Simmer, uncovered, over medium-low heat, for 25-30 minutes, until thickened and tomatoes have reached desired taste.
• Meanwhile, fill a large bowl with the hottest tap water. Add the noodles and allow them to sit in the water for 20 minutes. Drain.
• In a medium bowl, combine the ricotta, goat cheese, 1 cup of Parmesan, the egg, the remaining 2 tablespoons of parsley, remaining ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Set aside.
• Ladle 1/3 of the sauce into a 9 by 12 by 2-inch rectangular baking dish, spreading the sauce over the bottom of the dish. Then add the layers as follows: half the pasta, half the mozzarella, half the ricotta, and one 1/3 of the sauce. Add the rest of the pasta, mozzarella, ricotta, and finally, sauce. Sprinkle with ¼ cup of Parmesan.
• Bake for 30 minutes, until the sauce is bubbling.

CONTADINA® BUTTERNUT SQUASH LASAGNA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Spray a 13x9-inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray; set aside. Cook lasagna noodles according to package directions; drain.
• Heat oil in large saucepan over medium heat; cook onion and garlic 3 minutes, stirring frequently.
• Add squash, crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, basil, rosemary, balsamic vinegar and sugar. Bring to a boil; reduce heat. Simmer 12 minutes or until squash is tender.
• Remove from heat. Lightly mash squash with a potato masher.
• Stir together ricotta, egg and 2 Tbsp. Parmesan cheese in a medium bowl; set aside.
• Layer 4 lasagna noodles, 1/3 sauce, 1/3 ricotta mixture and 1/3 mozzarella cheese.
• Repeat 2 more times ending with ricotta and mozzarella.
• Cover with foil. Bake 45 minutes. Remove foil. Sprinkle with remaining 2 Tbsp. Parmesan cheese. Bake, uncovered, 10 minutes or until cheese is lightly browned.
• Remove from oven. Let rest 5 to 10 minutes. Sprinkle with additional chopped basil before serving, if desired.