Family Lasagna

Ingredients

•  8–10 store-bought lasagna noodles
• ​ 1/2 lb sweet or spicy Italian pork sausage
• 1 can (28 oz) crushed tomatoes
• 1 small onion
• 2 garlic cloves
• 15 oz whole-milk ricotta
• 8 oz low-moisture block mozzarella, shredded
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan or Pecorino
• 10 oz frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
• 1 egg
• Dried oregano
• Salt
• Pepper
• olive oil

Directions

1. Make the Meat Sauce: In a skillet over medium heat, brown the Italian sausage, breaking it up with a spoon. Add the onion and garlic; cook until soft (about 5 minutes). Pour in the crushed tomatoes, 1 teaspoon oregano, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 15 minutes.
2. ​Prepare the Cheese Layer: In a bowl, mix the ricotta, egg, squeezed spinach, half of the grated Parmesan, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper.
3. ​Par-boil the Pasta: Boil the lasagna noodles in salted water according to package directions (under-cook by 2 minutes so they hold structure). Drain.
4. ​Assemble the Lasagna: ​Bottom: Spread a thin layer of sauce in an 8x10 or 9x13 baking dish. ​Layer 1: 3 noodles, half the ricotta-spinach mixture, 1/3 of the mozzarella, and a ladle of sauce. ​Layer 2: 3 noodles, remaining ricotta mixture, 1/3 of the mozzarella, and a ladle of sauce. Top Layer: Remaining noodles, remaining sauce, remaining mozzarella, and remaining Parmesan.
5. ​Bake: Cover with foil and bake at 375°F (190°C) for 25 minutes. Remove foil and bake 15 minutes more until the top is bubbling and browned. Rest 15 minutes before slicing.