Italian Layered Dish (Print Version)

# Ingredients:

→ Meat

01 - 450g Italian sausage
02 - 450g ground beef

→ Produce

03 - 3 minced garlic cloves
04 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
05 - 1 large chopped onion

→ Canned Goods

06 - 120ml water
07 - 1 can (425g) tomato puree
08 - 1 can (170g) thick tomato paste
09 - 2 cans (800g each) crushed tomatoes

→ Seasonings

10 - 1/2 teaspoon fragrant fennel seeds
11 - 1 teaspoon blended Italian spice mix
12 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
13 - 1 tablespoon dried basil leaves
14 - 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
15 - 1 tablespoon plain salt

→ Dairy

16 - 450g soft ricotta cheese
17 - 1 large egg
18 - 1 cup finely grated Parmesan
19 - 450g shredded mozzarella cheese

→ Pasta

20 - 12 rolled lasagna sheets

# Instructions:

01 - Boil lasagna sheets until they're cooked to a tender bite (al dente). Rinse in cool water after draining to stop them from sticking.
02 - Take a bowl and mix ricotta, egg, a pinch of pepper, salt, and parsley. Combine everything until smooth and creamy.
03 - In a roomy pot, sauté the onion, sausage, and beef until browned. Discard the extra fat before stirring in the crushed tomatoes, water, tomato sauce, tomato paste, sugar, basil, fennel seeds, salt, and pepper. Let it slowly bubble without a lid for 90 minutes, stirring now and then.
04 - Start with 240ml sauce spread across a 23x23cm pan. Lay 3 pasta sheets over the sauce. Add 1/3 of the cheese mix, followed by 1/3 each of mozzarella and Parmesan. Keep layering this way two more times, ending with a generous layer of cheese.
05 - Wrap foil tightly over the dish without letting it touch the cheese. Bake at 190°C for 25 minutes.
06 - Take off the foil and bake another 25 minutes. The cheese should become golden, and edges will bubble.
07 - Pull from the oven and let the dish sit for 15 minutes. It’ll firm up and slice more easily.

# Notes:

01 - This comforting layered pasta from Maggiano's Little Italy is a family favorite.
02 - Simmering the sauce longer makes the flavors richer and more developed.
03 - You can prepare this ahead and store it in the fridge before baking.

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