basil leaves, lasagna, meatless recipes, mozzarella cheese, parmigiano reggiano cheese, parsley, pasta recipe, pasta sheets, ricotta cheese, tomatoes, yellow onion,
In this southern Italy version of lasagna, ricotta and mozzarella cheeses are substituted for the besciamella, a white sauce, and a meatless tomato sauce replaces the meat ragù. The result is lighter and less rich, but no less delicious.
Recipe courtesy of Williams-Sonoma
Ingredients
FOR THE SAUCE:
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 yellow onion, finely chopped
5 pounds fresh tomatoes, peeled, seeded and chopped, or 2 cans (each 28 ounces) plum tomatoes, seeded and chopped, with juice
Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
6 to 8 fresh basil leaves, torn into small pieces
Add 1 1/4 pound fresh pasta sheets, each cut into strips about 12 by 4 inches, or 1 1/4 pound dried lasagna
FOR THE FILLING:
1 egg
3 cups ricotta cheese
1/4 cup finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, plus more for serving
1/2 pound fresh mozzarella cheese, thinly sliced
Preparation
To make the sauce, in a large, heavy saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter with the olive oil. Add the onion and sauté until tender, about 5 minutes.
Add the tomatoes and salt. Bring to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until thickened, about 45 minutes.
Stir in the basil and pepper. Let cool to room temperature. You should have about 7 cups.
Bring a large pot three-fourths full of water to a boil over high heat. Salt generously. For the fresh pasta, add the strips one at a time, stirring gently so they do not stick together. Boil until almost tender, about 1 minute. Drain off about two-thirds of the water, leaving the pasta in the pot. Refill the pot with cold water and set aside.
For the dried lasagna, add the strips one at a time, stirring gently so they do not stick together, and cook according to the package instructions until the pasta is still very al dente (tender but firm to the bite). Drain off about two-thirds of the water, leaving the pasta in the pot. Refill the pot with cold water and set aside.
To make the filling, in a bowl, lightly beat the egg until blended. Stir in the ricotta, parsley, salt and pepper.
Preheat an oven to 375°F.
In a 9-by-12-by-2-inch baking dish, spread about 1/4 cup of the sauce over the bottom. Remove 2 of the lasagna noodles from the pot, spread them on a kitchen towel and pat dry. Place the pasta in the pan in a single layer. Spread evenly with about 1 cup of the ricotta mixture and sprinkle with 1/4 cup of the Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese. Scatter about one-fourth of the mozzarella slices on top. Make a second layer using 2 noodles and spread it with sauce. Layer again with the cheeses. Repeat the layers. Make a final layer with the remaining noodles, spread with a thin layer of sauce, and top with the remaining mozzarella and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheeses. (At this point, the dish can be covered and refrigerated for several hours or up to overnight before baking.)
Bake until the sauce is bubbling, the top is browned and the center is heated through, about 45 minutes. (If the lasagna has come straight from the refrigerator, it will need to bake for about 1 1/4 hours.)
Remove from the oven and let stand for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, reheat the remaining sauce over low heat. Cut the lasagna into squares and serve. Pass the remaining sauce and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese at the table.
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