Sunday, March 14, 2010

Thirty Three Minute Lasagna

I saw the demonstration of this dish on a Cooks' Illustrated cooking DVD and just had to make it. It looked so cheerful and welcoming. Most cooking shows do not give you the exact recipe or will only give correct amounts for part of the recipe. This way they are not responsible for your failures when you muck up the ingredients and since most celebrities want to publish a cook book, they do not give away the recipes in the potential book. Tonight I had a Brazilian mother and daughter over for dinner and made lasagna. They gladly accepted the leftovers. Hint: I buy plastic containers just to give left overs away or meals away. They are not expensive and are like gift wrap. Everyday lasagna takes a great deal of time but not this dish.

2 onions
3 cloves of garlic
1 tbsp oil
1 pound of extra lean ground beef
28 oz. can of diced or crushed tomatoes
8 oz tomato sauce
8 lengths of broad lasagna noodles
1 tsp dry basil
1 tsp dry oregano
salt and pepper to taste
8 oz ricotta cheese
fresh basil leaves (or flat parsley leaves if basil is not available).

Chop and fry the onions and garlic till transparent in the oil. Add a little salt to this mixture to release the moisture. Add the beef and break up. Just cook till the pink disappears, no need to brown. Add the tomatoes, tomato sauce,herbs,more salt if needed and pepper. I did not have any red pepper flakes but if I had them, I would add a shake or two. Break up the lasagna noodles into 2 inch squares or what ever shape they take. Lay them on top of the tomato/meat mixture. Cover the pan with a lid and cook for 20 minutes on low heat. When I checked the noodles after 20 minutes they were still to firm so I cooked them for 3 more minutes. Dab the ricotta using two tablespoons over the top of the dish. Place the lid back on the pot and cook for 5 more minutes to soften and warm the cheese. Roll the basil into tubes and slice. Sprinkle on top. That it is. A simple dish that has all the flavour of the classic lasagna with one quarter of the work and time.

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