Delicious Savory Lasagna

Savory lasagna is a classic Italian dish that has been enjoyed by many for its rich flavors and comforting texture. This recipe offers a perfect balance of creamy cheese sauce, savory beef, tender pasta sheets, and a variety of fresh vegetables. Whether you're hosting a family dinner or a casual get-together with friends, savory lasagna is sure to be a hit.

This dish can be made in about 2 hours if you start preparing the ingredients ahead of time and allow enough cooling and refrigeration time for each layer. It serves up to eight people, making it perfect for sharing and enjoying as a family meal or party snack.

Ingredients

• 3 pounds ground beef
• 1 large onion, finely chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 jar of marinara sauce (about 24 ounces)
• 8 large lasagna noodles
• 6 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 2 cups ricotta cheese
• 3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• Fresh basil leaves for garnish (optional)

Instructions

To prepare the meat sauce:

1. In a large skillet, brown the ground beef over medium heat. Once the beef is cooked through, use a slotted spoon to remove it from the pan and place on paper towels to drain any excess fat.
2. Add the chopped onion and garlic into the same skillet. Sauté until the onions are translucent. Stir in the jar of marinara sauce, then return the ground beef back into the pot with the sauce. Bring this mixture to a simmer. Reduce the heat so that it can slowly cook for about 20 minutes while stirring occasionally.

To prepare the pasta layers:

3. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
4. Cook the lasagna noodles according to package instructions. Drain well and set aside until they are no longer hot.
5. In a large bowl, mix together the ricotta cheese, half of the shredded mozzarella, Parmesan, salt, pepper, and beaten egg. This mixture will be used for the béchamel sauce.

To assemble the lasagna:

6. Spread a thin layer of meat sauce in the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish.
7. Add a single layer of cooked lasagna noodles over the sauce. Spread half of your ricotta mixture evenly across this pasta, and then cover with another layer of meat sauce. Sprinkle more mozzarella over the top before adding another layer of noodles on top of that.
8. Repeat these layers until all ingredients are used up except for a final layer of mozzarella cheese to be placed at the very top of your assembled lasagna dish.
9. Cover with aluminum foil and bake in preheated oven for 25 minutes. Then remove the foil and continue baking another 15-20 minutes or until the surface is golden brown and bubbly around the edges.

Final step:

9. Once cooked, let the lasagna rest for about 10 minutes before cutting into slices. Garnish with fresh basil leaves if desired.

Tips and Variations

• If you want to add more vegetables like zucchini or eggplant, slice them thinly and place between the pasta layers for extra flavor.
• For a vegetarian version, replace ground beef with mushrooms or sun-dried tomatoes. Just ensure that these are cooked until they have released their liquid.
• To make this dish lighter, you could substitute half of the regular mozzarella with part-skim mozzarella to reduce fat content while still maintaining great flavor.

Enjoy your delicious homemade lasagna! This savory delight is sure to satisfy everyone's taste buds and provide a memorable experience for all who partake in it. Whether served warm or cold, this dish remains one of the most beloved comfort foods worldwide.