My Family's Italian Lasagna Recipe

Servings: 8-10

For the Meat Sauce:

• 1 tbsp. Olive Oil
• 1 cup Carrots, finely chopped
• 1 cup Celery, finely chopped
• 2 lb. Ground Bison or Lean Ground Beef (or 1 lb. Ground Beef and 1 lb. Italian Ground Sausage)
• 1/4 cup Tomato Paste
• 24 oz Tomato Passata
• 1 cup Red Wine
• 2 tsp. EACH: Vahdam Onion Powder, Vahdam Garlic Powder
• 1 tsp. EACH: Vahdam Himalayan Pink Salt, Vahdam Black Pepper Powder

For the Creamy White Sauce:

• 5 tbsp. Butter
• 5 tbsp. Flour
• 4 cups Whole Milk
• 1 tsp. Vahdam Cinnamon Powder
• 1 cup Freshly Grated Parmesan
• 1/2 cup Shredded Mozzarella

To Assemble:

• 12-14 Lasagna Noodles, cooked to al dente
• 1 cup Shredded Mozzarella
• 1/4 cup Freshly Grated Parmesan, for serving
• 1/4 cup Fresh Basil, chopped, for serving

For the Meat Sauce:

1. Add the olive oil to a large pan over medium high heat. Add the finely chopped carrots and celery to cook until tender, about 3-4 minutes.
2. Add the ground beef to brown in larger chunks for 3-4 minutes, then break up the meat using a wooden spoon into fine pieces.
3. Add the tomato paste and stir until well-incorporated.
4. Add the remaining ingredients and stir to combine. Reduce heat to a simmer and cover to cook for 40 minutes to 1 hour, until the beef is fully cooked. If needed, use a spatula or wooden spoon to break up the meat again into fine pieces.

TIP: If you do not have the time to slow cook the meat sauce, you can simply continue cookingthe meat until fully cooked, breaking up with a wooden spoon until fine texture. Following the next steps the same except you will only simmer for 10 minutes.

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For the Creamy White Sauce:

1. In a large saucepan over medium high heat, add the butter. Once melted, whisk in the flour until a paste-like texture.
2. Stir in the cinnamon powder.
3. While whisking, gradually pour in the milk.
4. Stir in the parmesan and mozzarella. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce to simmer for 5 minutes.

To Assemble:

1. Preheat oven to 350F.
2. In a large baking dish (about 8"x11"), add a large spoonful of the meat sauce to the bottom. Spread out evenly. Add a layer of the cooked lasagna noodles. Add a layer of the meat sauce followed by a layer of the creamy white sauce. Continue to repeat the layers ending with a layer of the creamy white sauce over the noodles.
3. Top with the remaining 1 cup shredded mozzarella.
4. Cover to cook 20 minutes, then uncover to cook an additional 20-30 minutes, until the top is golden brown. Broil 1-3 minutes at the end for a golden brown, crispy cheese topping.
5. Let cool fro 10 minutes before serving warm with fresh basil and grated parmesan!