My Lovely Lasagne

the method

Instructions

1. 1

   Heat the oven

   Preheat the oven to 365°F so it's ready and steady by the time the pan is built.

2. 2

   Brown the beef

   Cook the ground beef in a skillet over medium heat until no pink remains, then drain off the excess fat.

3. 3

   Build the sauce

   Remove the skillet from the heat and stir in the vegetable broth and the jar of marinara until smooth and silky.

4. 4

   Start the first layer

   Spread enough of the meat sauce across the bottom of a glass baking pan to fully cover it — this keeps the noodles from sticking.

5. 5

   Layer noodles, ricotta, and cheese

   Cover the sauce with a layer of lasagne noodles. Spread the ricotta evenly over the pasta, then scatter half Parmesan, half mozzarella across the ricotta.

6. 6

   Repeat the layer

   Spoon another even layer of meat sauce over the cheese, top with more lasagne noodles, spread ricotta evenly across the pasta, then finish with another even layer of half Parmesan, half mozzarella.

7. 7

   Season the top

   Sprinkle the top with some basil, oregano, or a mix of both — whatever's calling your name from the spice drawer.

8. 8

   Bake covered

   Cover the pan tightly with foil and bake for 1 hour and 10 minutes, letting everything melt together gently under the foil.

9. 9

   Uncover and finish

   Remove the foil and bake for 10 more minutes, until the cheese on top is bubbling and just beginning to turn golden at the edges.

10. 10

    Rest and serve

    Let the lasagne rest for 5 minutes before slicing — this is what gives you those clean, holds-its-shape squares. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve.