Sausage Meatball Lasagna

  5.0 – 4 reviews  • Main Dish
Level: Easy
Total: 3 hr 30 min
Prep: 1 hr
Cook: 2 hr 30 min
Yield: 8 to 10 servings
Level: Easy
Total: 3 hr 30 min
Prep: 1 hr
Cook: 2 hr 30 min
Yield: 8 to 10 servings

Ingredients

  1. 1 1/2 pounds sweet Italian sausage, casings removed
  2. 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
  3. 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  4. 4 ounces sliced soppressata, chopped
  5. 1 white onion, chopped
  6. 2 stalks celery, chopped
  7. 2 carrots, chopped
  8. 2 large cloves garlic, chopped
  9. 3 tablespoons tomato paste
  10. 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
  11. 1/2 cup dry red wine
  12. 3 cups tomato puree (from a 28-ounce can)
  13. 1 15-ounce container whole-milk ricotta cheese
  14. 3 large eggs
  15. 1 cup grated parmesan cheese (about 4 ounces)
  16. 18 no-boil lasagna noodles (from two 9-ounce packages)
  17. Unsalted butter, for the baking dish
  18. 4 cups grated part-skim mozzarella cheese (about 1 pound)
  19. 1/2 cup grated pecorino romano cheese (about 2 ounces)

Instructions

  1. Make the meatballs: Mix the sausage and parsley in a bowl with your hands until combined. Dampen your hands and form the meat into 3/4-inch balls (you should have about 40). Heat the olive oil in a large pot over high heat. Working in batches, add the meatballs and cook, turning, until browned, about 7 minutes. Transfer to a plate using a slotted spoon.
  2. Reduce the heat to medium high and add the soppressata, onion, celery, carrots and garlic. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are slightly softened, about 6 minutes. Add the tomato paste and basil and cook, stirring, 3 minutes. Stir in the wine, tomato puree and 3 cups water. Reduce the heat to medium low and return the meatballs to the pot. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens, 1 hour, 20 minutes.
  3. Prepare the lasagna: Whisk the ricotta, eggs and parmesan in a medium bowl. Fill a large bowl with hot water. Working in batches, soak the noodles until just pliable, about 5 minutes. Lay out on a clean kitchen towel and pat dry.
  4. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Butter the bottom and sides of a deep 10-by-13-inch baking dish. Lay 6 noodles in the bottom of the dish so they go partway up the sides and overlap slightly. Spread half of the ricotta mixture over the noodles, then top with half of the meatballs and 1 1/2 cups sauce. Sprinkle with half each of the mozzarella and pecorino. Repeat the layers (noodles, ricotta mixture, meatballs, sauce, mozzarella and pecorino). Top with the remaining 6 noodles and cover with the remaining sauce.
  5. Tightly cover the dish with foil and bake until bubbly, about 30 minutes. Uncover and bake until browned, about 15 more minutes. Let stand 20 minutes before serving.

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 1 of 10 servings
Calories 737
Total Fat 40 g
Saturated Fat 21 g
Carbohydrates 49 g
Dietary Fiber 4 g
Sugar 7 g
Protein 44 g
Cholesterol 172 mg
Sodium 1340 mg
Serving Size 1 of 10 servings
Calories 737
Total Fat 40 g
Saturated Fat 21 g
Carbohydrates 49 g
Dietary Fiber 4 g
Sugar 7 g
Protein 44 g
Cholesterol 172 mg
Sodium 1340 mg

Reviews

Vicki Chavez
Absolutely fabulous!  This is a recipe for people who love to cook as it is time consuming and some of the ingredients are pricey but it is all worth it!  The sauce will not be super thick but don’t worry, it is all perfectly balanced and comes together beautifully.
Diane Harris
Wow!  Absolutely delicious!  I was a little skeptical at first.  No oregano?  No cheese on top?  No boil pasta?  But based on the other ratings, I decided to try anyway.  So glad I did.  The sauce is sweet yet complex.  The meatballs add a little fennel flavor and texture to each bite.  And, of course, the cheesy goodness you expect in lasagna.  Perfect balance.
Dennis Smith DDS
Absolutely amazing and I’m Italian. This is my new favorite lasagna dish. Even used Jenny O Spicy Italian Chicken Sausage to make it lighter. Tasted great.
Brandon Rivers
Made it today for dinner and my lasagna-fan-husband said wow! Though it took me 4.5 hours from start to serve, it’s so worth it. Glad that we have some leftover for the next 2 days. 🙂 I will definitely make it again.

 

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