Lasagna
Makes 12 manly servings
On the trail of the boy-perfect lasagna, we’ve learned a few tricks: Start with a thick tomato sauce and allow the lasagna to set after cooking, so it will cut into clean, compact slices. Boil noodles only half as long as the package directs, because mushy equals airline lasagna. Pecorino Romano cheese offers more punch than Parmesan, and the sausage needs a crisp crust. This lasagna feeds five or six for dinner, including seconds, and is still delicious reheated the next day. Stash it in the freezer and you’ll never be left unprepared to feed a mass of guys. It goes straight from freezer to oven, but add twenty minutes to the cooking time.
INGREDIENTS
- 1 pound lasagna noodles or packaged precooked lasagna noodles
- coarse salt
- 5 links sweet Italian sausage, or a mixture of hot and sweet, pierced with a fork
- 1 large egg
- 1 pound ricotta cheese
- 3/4 cup freshly grated pecorino Romano or Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
- 5 cups Basic Italian Tomato Sauce, (double the recipe and cook for 30 minutes longer to thicken)
- 1 pound fresh or prepackaged mozzarella cheese, cut crosswise into 1/3-inch-thick slices
- extra virgin olive oil, for drizzling
DIRECTIONS
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat. Add the noodles and a generous pinch of salt and cook for half as long as the package suggests. Drain and float in cold water. (Skip this step if noodles are precooked.)
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. In a medium skillet over medium-high heat, fry the sausage links until cooked through, about 10 minutes. With kitchen scissors, cut the sausage into disks in the pan and continue to fry over low heat until the cut surfaces are crispy, about 20 minutes. Drain off the fat.
- In a medium bowl, stir together the egg, ricotta, and 1/2 cup of the pecorino.
- To assemble the lasagna, spread 1 cup of the tomato sauce in the bottom of a greased 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Drain and pat dry the noodles. Overlap one third of the noodles atop the sauce to cover the pan bottom. Spread all the cooked sausage over the noodles and spoon over another cup of sauce. Lay down the second third of noodles. Evenly dollop all the ricotta mixture on top of the noodles and flatten with the spoon to make an even layer. Top with the remaining noodles to completely cover the cheese. Pour over 1 1/2 to 2 cups sauce to cover. Evenly lay all the mozzarella slices on top. Sprinkle around the remaining 1/4 cup pecorino and drizzle with olive oil.
- Bake uncovered for 40 minutes, or until the lasagna is bubbling all over and lightly golden on top. Let rest for 10 to 15 minutes before slicing. Serve with grated cheese and warmed extra sauce at the table.
pantry
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