Tony Bennett's Mother's Lasagna Recipe

Cooking Directions

• STEP 1.Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
• STEP 2.In a large skillet, cook ground beef, onions, and garlic until the beef is browned. Drain excess fat.
• STEP 3.Stir in tomato sauce, tomato paste, water, sugar, basil, oregano, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 30 minutes.
• STEP 4.In a separate bowl, combine ricotta cheese, eggs, parsley, and grated Parmesan cheese.
• STEP 5.Spread a thin layer of meat sauce in a baking dish. Layer with lasagna noodles, meat sauce, ricotta mixture, and mozzarella cheese.
• STEP 6.Repeat the layers until all ingredients are used, ending with a layer of mozzarella cheese on top.
• STEP 7.Cover the dish with foil and bake for 25 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 25 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and golden.
• STEP 8.Let the lasagna rest for 10 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh basil leaves, if desired.

Cooking Tips

• For a vegetarian version, substitute the ground beef with sautéed mushrooms or spinach.
• Make sure to fully cook the lasagna noodles before layering them in the dish.
• Leftover lasagna can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or frozen for longer storage.

Storage and Serving

• Store leftover lasagna in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
• Reheat individual portions in the microwave or the oven.
• Serve the lasagna hot, garnished with fresh basil leaves.