Meatball Lasagna

I have a love hate relationship with lasagna and have spent years trying to find or create the perfect recipe. After all this time I’m pretty sure I created the perfect lasagna. This lasagna is adorned with the cutest little meatballs and layered with the perfect amount of sauce and cheese. Seriously delicious!

Ingredients

• 1 onion, grated

• 2 cloves garlic, grated

• 1 can (28 ounce) whole tomatoes

• 1 can (28 ounce) crushed tomatoes

• 1 tablespoon fresh thyme, chopped

• 1 pound ground beef

• 1/2 cup panko bread crumbs

• 2 cups parmesan cheese, grated

• 1/2 cup parsley, finely chopped

• 4 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded

• 16 ounce ricotta cheese

• 1/2 cup heavy cream

• 1 egg

• 2 tablespoons olive oil

• 1 pound lasagna noodles, fresh if available (see note)

• Salt and pepper

Instructions

1. Heat the oven to 400 degrees.

2. Heat olive oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic and a teaspoon of salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Add the tomatoes and thyme. Break the tomatoes up with your spoon and gently simmer.

3. In a large bowl, mix the beef, 2 teaspoons of salt, bread crumbs, 1/2 cup parmesan, parsley and egg. Mix well then form into very small balls. Put the formed balls on a sheet pan and bake for 5 minutes then add to the tomato sauce.

4. In another large bowl mix the ricotta, 1/2 cup of parmesan, 2 cups mozzarella and cream together. Season with a teaspoon of salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper.

5. Assemble the lasagna by adding a bit of the sauce to the bottom of the pan, then layer with lasagna noodles, add 1/3 of the cheese mixture, 1/4 of the sauce, then another layer of lasagna noodles. Repeat with 2 additional layers then add the remaining sauce and top with 1 cup of mozzarella and 1 cup parmesan.

6. Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees. Cover the lasagna with foil and bake for 40 minutes. Remove the foil and increase the oven to 450 degrees. Cook for another 15 minutes until golden and bubbly. Let cool for 10 minutes before serving.

Note: If you can’t find fresh lasagna, use dried and cook until al dente before assembling.

Takes 1 hour 20 minutes

Serves 4-6