The Secret To Making The Best Lasagna And Home Made Turkey Meat Sauce

When it comes to Italian food, lasagna definitely tops my list.  What's not to love?  Gooey cheese sandwiched between layers of pasta noodles, all smothered in delicious sauce.  I made this recipe a tad healthier by using ground turkey instead of ground beef.  Read on for how to recreate this classic meal, homemade sauce and all!




Meat sauce ingredients:

• 1 1/2 pound of ground turkey
• 1 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
• 1 small onion, minced or pureed (can use 1 tablespoon onion powder if you don't have an onion)
• 1 teaspoon of minced garlic
• 1 28 ounce can of petite diced tomatoes 
• 2 6 ounce cans of tomato paste
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 1 tablespoon dried parsley

Steps:

Heat a large pan over medium heat.  Add olive oil.

Add the ground turkey and the 1 1/2 teaspoons sea salt.

Crumble and brown the turkey.

Once the turkey has browned, turn off the heat.

In a stock pot, heat up 1 teaspoon minced garlic and the pureed onion for a few minutes over low heat.

To the onions and garlic add sugar, fennel seeds, 1 tablespoon salt, and dried parsley.

Add the diced tomatoes, tomato paste to the spices.  Stir together well.

Cover and simmer, stirring occasionally for 1 1/2 hours.

Ingredients for lasagna:

• 1 pound lasagna noodles (about 16 noodles)
• 16 ounces of ricotta cheese
• 1 egg
• 1 tablespoon dried parsley
•  1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 pound fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced
• 3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Steps:

Pre-heat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Bring a large pot of water to a boil.

Carefully add the lasagna noodles.

Cook for 10 minutes or until el dente.

While the pasta is cooking, mix the ricotta cheese, egg, parsley, and salt.  Set aside.

Drain the pasta, and rinse with cold water.

In a 9X13 baking dish, cover the bottom with meat sauce.

Place cooked lasagna noodles in a single layer over the meat sauce.

Spoon out half of the ricotta cheese mixture onto the layer of noodles.

Spread the mixture as evenly as you can on the noodles.

Sprinkle a third of the Parmesan cheese over the ricotta mixture.

Place a third of the mozzarella over the other cheeses.

Repeat these layers.

Top with remaining meat sauce, mozzarella, Parmesan cheeses.

Cover baking dish with a layer of foil that has been sprayed with cooking spray (so that the cheese doesn't stick).

Bake the covered lasagna for 25 minutes.  Remove the foil and bake for an additional 20 minutes.

Cool for 10 minutes before serving.

Enjoy this lasagna with a crisp salad and some yummy garlic bread!

     ~ Chef Megs