This absolutely brilliant, very juicy and flavorful 3 cheeses and ground beef lasagna has all the touches we love in a Dominican "lasaña", and will now be a favorite in your family. This is my best recipe for baking lasagna, there are never leftovers!
Why we ❤️ it
Everybody loves lasagna and we Dominicans are no exception. This 3-Cheeses and Beef Lasagna, while insanely flavorful, is not trying to pass itself as an authentic Italian dish; after all, it's not the first time we do unspeakable things to Italian dishes. Unspeakably-delicious things.
We Dominicans LOVE pastelones (casseroles), and what's lasagna but the world's most famous pastelón?
Cooking the perfect lasagna
One thing I really dislike in many baked beef lasagna recipes I have tried is that the pasta gets too soggy. I am a stickler for al dente pasta; anything else would be just too much a horror for me to bear. You may feel differently about this, and if you do, this is the lasagna recipe for you, fellow curmudgeon!
The great thing about this recipe is that it all but guarantees your lasagna will remain al dente, not to mention the ease of working with raw pasta instead of wrangling leaves of slippery boiled lasagna that most often than not end on the floor, and break or stick to each other in the boiling.
Also, cheese. Lots of cheese.
About our recipe
For this lasagna I use minced beef --but minced pork is also very good-- and cremita cheese, a Dominican version of ricotta, only drier. I mixed the cremita with shredded mozzarella, and the lasagna is topped with parmesan.
The fresh tomato sauce adds the final touch to this dish that no canned tomato sauce would, but if you want to save some time, go ahead, use canned or jarred peeled tomatoes.
And you have to give this dish a try, you are about to learn how to make the best lasagna with meat and cheese you can possibly make at home.
Recipe
3 Cheese and Beef Lasagna
Ingredients
For beef filling
- 2 lbs minced beef, [0.9 kg]
- 1 small red onion, minced
- 1 red bell pepper, chopped
- 1 teaspoon oregano (dry leaves)
- ¼ teaspoon pepper (freshly-cracked, or ground)
- 1 tablespoon salt, (or more, to taste)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ¼ cup water
- 2 cups tomato sauce
For tomato sauce to top
- 10 large tomato
- ½ tablespoon salt, or to taste
- ¼ teaspoon pepper (freshly-cracked, or ground)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ½ tablespoon mashed garlic
To assemble
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 9 lasagna noodles
- ½ pound shredded mozzarella, [0.23 kg]
- 1 pound cremita cheese, [0.45 kg], (or dry ricotta), crumbled
- ½ cup shredded parmesan
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven at 300°F [150°C].
How to season ground beef for lasagna
- Season beef with onion, bell pepper, oregano, pepper and salt.
Cooking the beef for lasagna
- In a skillet heat oil over medium heat. Add the ground beef and stir to break down any clumps. Add water and tomato sauce.
- Simmer, adding water as it becomes necessary to maintain the same level until the meat is cooked-through (10 minutes).
- Remove from the heat and set aside.
How to make tomato sauce for lasagna
- With a sharp knife score a shallow cross on the bottom of the tomatoes.
- Put a gallon [4 lt] of water to boil in a large pot. Submerge the tomatoes in the boiling water until the skin begins to peel off. Remove from the hot water and cool to room temperature.
- Skin, seed and chop the tomatoes. Sprinkle pepper and salt on the tomatoes.
- Heat oil over low heat, add tomatoes and garlic. Add a cup of water and simmer over very low heat until it turns into about 2 ½ cup of tomato sauce.
- Remove from the heat and reserve.
How to assemble and bake lasagna
Spread the olive oil on the bottom of a baking pan. Lay ⅓ of the raw lasagna on top. Spread half the meat on the lasagna.
Top with half the cremita and half the mozzarella. Lay another third of the pasta on top.
Cover with the remaining beef, followed by the remaining cremita and mozzarella. Top with the remaining lasagna, and pour the tomato sauce on top.- Cover the pan as tight as possible with aluminum foil. Bake 1 hour. Uncover, top with parmesan and return to the oven for 10 minutes. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving.
- Serve with salad.
Tips and Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is calculated automatically based on ingredients listed. Please consult your doctor if you need precise nutritional information.
