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Lasagna Recipe Without Ricotta Cheese – Italian Recipe

Lasagna recipe is the first course to which nobody can say no.

lasagna recipe without ricotta cheese

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Lasagna Recipe Without Ricotta Cheese – Ultimate Comfort Food

Lasagna is a great classic of Italian cuisine, a dish known throughout the world.

This is the classic recipe for preparing lasagna alla Bolognese without ricotta cheese or cottage cheese.

In addition to being inspired by the classic Bolognese, this is the recipe that has always been eaten at my house.

It is so good that I always prepare a lot of it, and then freeze it and cook it when I want something special.

Lasagna Recipe Ingredients

Bolognese sauce

Bolognese sauce is a thick, meat-based red sauce that originated in Bologna, Italy.

It is typically made with ground beef, pancetta or italian sausage carrots, celery, yellow onions, tomatoes puree, and red wine. Is the main ingredient for this lasagna.

The secret is to let it cook on low heat for hours. In my bolognese I add some fresh basil too.

 bolognese sauce for the lasagna

Bechamel sauce

To prepare classic lasagna, it is one of the must-have ingredients. It is very easy to prepare this white sauce as just a few ingredients are needed.

It will help make s super creamy homemade lasagna.

Egg pasta in lasagne shape

The base of lasagna is egg pasta.

lasagna recipe

No need to boil lasagna noodles if you use the dry one, cook the lasagna normally.

If, on the other hand, you have a passion for fresh pasta, you can make it at home or you can find ready-made egg pasta.

Mozzarella cheese – Parmesan cheese

These are the only two cheeses we are going to use in this lasagna.

Butter

It is one of mom’s secrets for getting that delicious crust on top of lasagna

How to Make traditional lasagna – Step-by-Step Directions

Step 1

Prepare the bolognese (can be prepared in advance).

In a high-sided saucepan begin by sautéing the soffritto for about 10 minutes on low heat.

When it is ready you can add the ground meat, let it cook and then deglaze with red wine.

When the wine has evaporated you can add tomato sauce and cup of water or broth.

Let it cook for a couple of hours minimum, stirring occasionally and add broth if you see it drying out.

Step 2

Prepare the bechamel sauce.

A very quick way to prepare it is in the microwave; it will only take a few minutes.

See how to microwave bechamel here.

Step 3

Butter the baking pan with butter so you don’t risk i sticking, then start with a layer of bolognese, top with layers of lasagna noodles, add mozzarella, parmesan and béchamel, and top with bolognese.

Continue in this way until you have finished the entire baking sheet.

come layering lasagna

In the final layer mix the bolognese with the béchamel sauce and cover the pasta layer.

Step 4

Preheat the oven to 356 degrees F .

Before baking the lasagna, add butter flakes on top of the lasagna. Cook the first 20-30 minutes with aluminum foil and the last 10 without. 

Pro Tips

  • For a perfect lasagna 4-5 layers is the minimum.
  • If at the end of baking the top still looks “pale,” turn on the oven grill and continue for a few minutes, checking the degree of browning often so as not to burn the surface.
  • Cover the lasagna sheets tightly with the sauce when you prepare the lasagna so as not to risk it drying out in cooking.
  • The lasagna, when cooked, should rest.

Let it rest for at least twenty minutes and then cut it into portions and serve

How To Store Lasagna

Once assembled you can store the lasagna raw for a day in the refrigerator, or freeze it.

Once cooked, however, I recommend consuming it immediately.

If there are any left overs you can store them in the refrigerator for a day or for a maximum of 3 days in an airtight container or covered with cling film.

How to Reheat Lasagna

The lasagna should be heated in a traditional oven or microwave.

How to Freeze Lasagna

Lasagna can be frozen either when cooked or raw.

If cooked, you can’t put them in the freezer as soon as they come out of the oven; they must reach room temperature.

When defrosting lasagna, whether it’s raw or already cooked, don’t put it directly in the oven: rather leave it to thaw for half a day in the fridge.

More italian pasta recipes:

Did you know that

The origins of lasagna would be very old: the Roman Apicius, names “lagane”, thin strips of pasta enriched with meat.

This dish could be to all intents and purposes considered the progenitor of our lasagna.

FAQ’s Recipe

What is the correct order to layer lasagna?

Bolognese
Lasagna noodles
Mozzarella cheese – Parmesan cheese
Bechamel sauce
Bolognese

How to know when lasagna is ready?

The trick is simple. Once the indicated time has elapsed and you have complied with the grades given in the recipe, sink your fork into the first layer of lasagna. If the noodles turn out soft, the dish is ready to be served.

Do you Have to Put Eggs in the Cheese Filling for Lasagna?

No, in the Italian recipe there is no egg in the filling.

Lasagna Recipe Without Ricotta Cheese

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Yield: 8 portions

Classic Lasagna Recipe

lasagna recipe

Lasagna recipe is a great classic of Italian cuisine. The one in this recipe is a simple lasagna with meat sauce that my mom always prepares.

Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Additional Time 3 hours
Total Time 3 hours 50 minutes

Ingredients

For the lasagna

  • 1.1lbs Bolognese sauce
  • 1.22 cups Bechamel sauce
  • 16 regular lasagna noodles (or no-boil noodles)
  • 10.58 oz Mozzarella cheese
  • 3.53 oz Grated grana padano cheese
  • 3 1/2 tablespoons Butter

Bolognese sauce

  • 1 lb Mixed minced meat (pork-beef)
  • 3 Tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 cup white wine
  • 2.5 cups of Tomato passata
  • 1 Celery (about 1 cup)
  • 1 Carrot (about 1 cup)
  • 1 Onion (about 1 cup)
  • 1 Bay leaf
  • Salt & pepper to taste

Bechamel

  • 4 ⅕ cup Milk
  • 3.5 ounce All purpose flour
  • 3.5 ounce Butter
  • Pinch of nutmeg
  • Salt & Black pepper

Instructions

  1. First, dice finely the onion, carrots and celery. This is the soffritto for the bolognese.
  2. Sauté vegetables in a saucepan with olive oil until tender, about 10 minutes.
  3. Add the ground meat and brown it over medium-high heat for about 10 minutes, then add the wine and let it evaporate over high heat.
  4. Add the tomato passata, a glass of water or broth and a bay leaf and stir well.
  5. Continue cooking over low heat, for at least two hours, stirring occasionally. Taste and adjust the flavor with salt and pepper if necessary.
  6. Meanwhile, prepare the béchamel sauce. Bechamel Recipe
  7. Once the Bolognese sauce and bechamel have been made, all that remains is to assemble the ingredients.
  8. There must be a minimum of 4/5 layer of lasagna noodles.
  9. Grease a baking dish with a little bit of butter and create the first layer starting with the meat sauce.
  10. Then add a layer of lasagna noodles. Continue with mozzarella, parmesan, béchamel and more bolognese.
  11. Cover with more lasagna noodles and continue until all ingredients are used up.
  12. In the last layer, mix a little bit of meat sauce together with some béchamel.
  13. To form a crust on the top layer, add lots of parmesan cheese and butter flakes.
  14. Place the baking dish in a hot 356 degrees F oven and bake for about 30-40 minutes. ( 20-30 minutes with aluminum foil and the last 10 without) 
  15. The last 5 minutes of cooking put the oven to gril, it will form a delicious crust.

    Nutrition Information:

    Yield:

    8

    Serving Size:

    1

    Amount Per Serving: Calories: 926Total Fat: 53gSaturated Fat: 26gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 23gCholesterol: 162mgSodium: 703mgCarbohydrates: 62gFiber: 4gSugar: 13gProtein: 44g

    Nutrition is automatically calculated by Nutritionix - please verify all nutrition information independently and consult with a doctor or nutritionist for any and all medical and diet advice.

    Did you make this recipe?

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    Enjoy

    lasagna recipe

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