3 Layered Lasagna With Egg And Mini Meatballs

This 3 layered lasagna with egg and meatballs is as close to authentic as you can get.

Having once been married into an Italian family I was blessed to have a mother in law that was an amazing cook. It’s taken me years to perfect my sauce and lasagna therefor,  I believe it is now as close to authentic as I can get. Of course, I added a few of my own touches to make it my own. I hope you enjoy this lasagna as much as my family does. 

Ingredients

The Sauce

• 3-4 ribs, or rib ends
• 2-3 links of Italian sausage removed from casing or 1/2 c beef /pork for meatballs.
• 4 hard-boiled eggs
• 1 – 796ml can crushed tomatoes
• 1- 156ml can of tomato paste
• 1 C water
• 1/2 -1 tsp of minced garlic
• 1 small onion
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• 1+ tsp salt and pepper (don’t skimp out as this make a great sauce)
• 1 Tbsp Olive Oil

Sauce Directions

In fry pan, add olive oil.  Braise ribs and set aside.

In a large saucepan heat olive oil, stir in tomato paste until sauce turns orange in color. Add onion, garlic, and fry in meat or sausage. Once browned add the ribs. Pour in crushed tomatoes, water, and spices. Cover and simmer until ready to build lasagna. Remove ribs to eat separate or discard. “Simmering ribs in a sauce results in great tasting sauce”.

Meatballs

• 1 lb ground pork/beef mix
• 2 Tbsp Parmesan cheese
• 1/2 tsp minced garlic
• 1 tsp brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 1/2 C bread crumbs
• 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning
• 1/4 tsp sea salt
• pepper to taste

Meatball Directions

Add all above ingredients together. Roll into tiny balls and brown in fry pan used for ribs. Once cooked add couple scoops of sauce with a large spoon ladle, stir. Set aside.

Pasta Layers

• Precook 12 -14 sheets of lasagna noodles (extra is good if some rip)
• Precook 4 diced hard-boiled eggs
• 1 bag of Italian cheese mix
• 2 cups grated mozzarella cheese
  
  

1st layer-Pour a light layer of sauce in 13 1/2″ X 9″ pan. Layer 4-5 noodles down, Add light sauce,  1/2 meatballs, 1/2 diced eggs. Do not add cheese to this layer. 2nd layer  Noodles, sauce, meatballs, diced egg,  sprinkle both kinds of cheese. Repeat. Top layer with sauce and remaining cheese. 

Cover firmly with tin foil. “you may need toothpicks to keep away from cheese topping) Bake at 350 degrees for 30 min. Remove foil and cook another 10 min to golden brown cheese. Let rest and slice as desired. 

Enjoy!!