Lasagna al Forno

Ingredients

• Mozzarella cheese (2 cups, shredded)
• Parmesan cheese (1 cup, grated)
• Egg (1 large)
• Ricotta cheese (1 cup)
• Salt and pepper (to taste)
• Italian seasoning (1 tablespoon)
• Tomato paste (1 can (6 oz))
• Tomato sauce (1 jar (24 oz))
• Garlic (3 cloves, minced)
• Onion (1 medium, finely chopped)
• Ground beef (1 pound)
• Lasagna noodles (12 pieces)

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F and lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
2. Cook the lasagna noodles in a large pot of boiling salted water until al dente, according to package instructions. Drain and set aside on a flat surface to prevent sticking.
3. While the noodles are cooking, heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef, onion, and garlic, cooking until the beef is fully browned and the onion is translucent.
4. Drain the excess fat from the skillet, then stir in the tomato sauce, tomato paste, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Bring the mixture to a simmer and let it cook for 10 minutes to meld the flavors together.
5. In a separate bowl, beat the egg and mix it with the ricotta and Parmesan cheese.
6. To assemble the lasagna, spread a thin layer of the meat sauce in the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Arrange a layer of lasagna noodles over the sauce, followed by half of the ricotta cheese mixture. Sprinkle with half of the shredded mozzarella.
7. Repeat the layering process with the remaining noodles, ricotta cheese mixture, and mozzarella, finishing with a final layer of meat sauce topped with mozzarella.
8. Cover the baking dish with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Then, remove the foil and bake for an additional 15 minutes, or until the cheese is golden and bubbling.
9. Allow the lasagna to rest for about 15 minutes before serving to ensure neat slices. This also gives the flavors a chance to meld together even more.