1861-1900 - Italian-American immigrant families and communities in the United States.

Lasagna

Name: Lasagna
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 1 h
Total time: 1 h 30 min
Yield: 8 servings
Ingredients: 12 lasagna noodles; 1 pound ground beef or Italian sausage; 1 jar (24 oz) tomato pasta sauce; 15 ounces ricotta cheese; 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese; 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese; 2 cloves garlic, minced; 1 small onion, chopped; 2 tablespoons olive oil; 1 teaspoon dried basil; 1 teaspoon dried oregano; Salt and pepper to taste

Lasagna is a layered baked casserole with pasta sheets, meat sauce, cheese, and often tomato and herbs. Italian immigrants introduced it to the U.S., where it became a holiday tradition and staple comfort food, especially during Christmas. Its layered nature symbolizes family and richness in American Italian cooking heritage.

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Difficulty

Medium

Prep time

30 minutes

Cook time

1 hour

Total time

1 hour 30 minutes

Servings

8 servings

Region

New York City Italian immigrant tenement and red-sauce restaurant kitchens

Era introduced

1861-1900

Introduced by

Italian-American immigrant families and communities in the United States.

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The Story

Italian immigrants brought lasagna recipes to America, where over time it evolved into a holiday favorite served at Christmas and family events. Adapted to locally available ingredients and cooking styles, lasagna's layered preparation and hearty flavors exemplify enduring cultural traditions and integration into American festive cuisine.

Ingredients

12 lasagna noodles
1 pound ground beef or Italian sausage
1 jar (24 oz) tomato pasta sauce
15 ounces ricotta cheese
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 small onion, chopped
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon dried oregano
Salt and pepper to taste

Equipment

Baking dish
Large pot
Skillet
Oven
Aluminum foil
Cutting board
Chef's knife
Spatula

Directions

Preheat oven to 375F (190C).
Cook lasagna noodles according to package; drain and set aside.
In a skillet, heat olive oil; saute onion and garlic until translucent.
Add ground meat; cook until browned.
Stir in pasta sauce, basil, oregano, salt, and pepper; simmer 10 minutes.
Spread a thin layer of sauce in baking dish.
Layer noodles, ricotta, meat sauce, and mozzarella; repeat layers ending with sauce and topped with Parmesan.
Cover with foil and bake 30 minutes.
Remove foil and bake additional 15 minutes until cheese bubbles and browns.
Let rest 10 minutes before serving.

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