Homemade Italian sausage, freshly made sauce and lots of ooey, gooey cheese…what could be better? If you’re in a rush though, feel free to substitute the sauce with a commercially available jarred sauce.
Ingredients
Sausage:
- 1 pound halal ground lamb or ground beef
- 1 ½ tsp dried anise
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ¼ – ½ tsp crushed red pepper flakes (to taste)
- ¼ tsp ground black pepper
- ¼ tsp dried thyme
- ¼ tsp dried oregano
- ¼ tsp ground coriander
- 3 Tbsp. ice water
Sauce:
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 28 oz can whole tomatoes
- 1 14.5 oz can tomato sauce
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp oregano
- 1 ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp pepper
Filling:
- 2 cups cottage cheese
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 3 eggs, lightly beaten
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp Italian seasoning
- Dash nutmeg
Casserole:
- 1 lb lasagna noodles, prepared according to the directions on the package
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella
- Nonstick spray
To prepare the sausage, add all of the spices into a medium-sized bowl and mix together with the ice water. Add in the ground lamb or beef and mix with your hands for 2-3 minutes to ensure that all of the seasoning is fully incorporated into the meat.
It is best to make this as far in advance as possible to allow the flavor to develop. Cover the bowl and place in the refrigerator for an hour or two, or even overnight if possible. You can also make the sausage well in advance and freeze it for up to 3 months.
To prepare the sauce, brown the sausage in a large pot, then drain off the grease. Add 2 Tbs olive oil to the pot and place over medium-high heat. Add the onions and saute for about 3-5 minutes, or until the onions become translucent. Add the minced garlic and saute for a minute longer. Add in the whole tomatoes, breaking the tomatoes apart with your hands, and the tomato sauce. Stir in the Italian seasoning, oregano, salt and pepper. Bring the sauce to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Allow the sauce to simmer for an additional 15-20 minutes.
To prepare the filling, thoroughly mix together the cottage cheese, ricotta, eggs, salt, Italian seasoning and nutmeg in a medium-sized bowl. Set aside.
To prepare the lasagna, preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a deep 9”x13” pan with nonstick spray. Spread ¼ of the sauce evenly over the bottom of the pan. Layer ¼ of the lasagna noodles over the sauce. Spread another ¼ of the sauce over the noodles. Cover with another layer of lasagna noodles. Spread all of the filling evenly over the noodles, then top with another layer of noodles. Spread ¼ of the sauce over the noodles. Top with the remaining noodles. Top the noodles with the remaining sauce. Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella evenly over the top. Cut a piece of aluminum foil to fit over the top of the dish and spay one side with nonstick spray. Place the foil, sprayed side down, over the dish and secure (this will help prevent the cheese from sticking when removed). Place on the middle rack of the oven and bake for 1 hour, removing the foil during the last 15 minutes to allow the cheese to brown.
Serves 6-8
Dessert
Basbousa