As Christmas Eve approaches, families and friends gather together to celebrate the spirit of the season. The aroma of delicious food fills the air as kitchens across the globe prepare traditional Christmas Eve dishes. Among these, lasagna holds a special place, offering a comforting and hearty meal that brings people together. In this article, we'll explore the origins of Christmas Eve lasagna, its significance in different cultures, and present a selection of delectable recipes that will make your Christmas Eve gathering truly memorable.
Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!
CHRISTMAS NIGHT LASAGNA
I tinkered with this recipe four or five times before I got it down to what it is now. It's easy-all you do is mess up two pots-but it tastes as good as the lasagnas that are a big production.
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 1h30m
Yield 2 casseroles (12 servings each).
Number Of Ingredients 18
Steps:
- In a Dutch oven or several large skillets, cook the beef, sausage, onion and green pepper over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Add the spaghetti sauce, soup, mushrooms, Worcestershire sauce, Italian seasoning, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon pepper and garlic powder. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally., Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine the eggs, cottage cheese, ricotta and remaining salt and pepper. , Spread 2 cups meat sauce each into two greased 13x9-in. baking dishes. Layer each with 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese, 4 noodles, 1-1/4 cups cottage cheese mixture and 3 slices of mozzarella cheese. Repeat layers. Top with the remaining noodles, meat sauce and Parmesan., Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 45 minutes or until bubbly. Let stand for 15 minutes before cutting.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 370 calories, Fat 16g fat (8g saturated fat), Cholesterol 77mg cholesterol, Sodium 804mg sodium, Carbohydrate 28g carbohydrate (7g sugars, Fiber 2g fiber), Protein 27g protein.
MAKEOVER TRADITIONAL LASAGNA
I've never been quick to pass along my special recipes, but this one is so good that it's become our family's Christmas Eve tradition! -Michelle Behan, Littleton, Colorado
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 1h55m
Yield 12 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 17
Steps:
- In a large skillet, cook beef and sausage over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Add the tomato sauce, tomato paste, garlic, sugar, Italian seasoning and pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 15 minutes. Meanwhile, cook noodles according to package directions; drain., In a small bowl, combine the eggs, cottage cheese, ricotta cheese, Parmesan and parsley. Spread 1 cup meat sauce into a 13x9-in. baking dish coated with cooking spray. Layer with 3 noodles, half of the cheese mixture, 1-1/3 cups sauce and 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese. Repeat layers. Top with remaining noodles and sauce., Cover and bake at 350° for 55-60 minutes or until bubbly. Top with provolone and remaining mozzarella cheese. Bake, uncovered, 15-20 minutes longer or until cheese is melted. Let stand for 15 minutes before cutting. Sprinkle with additional parsley.,
Nutrition Facts : Calories 361 calories, Fat 15g fat (7g saturated fat), Cholesterol 133mg cholesterol, Sodium 634mg sodium, Carbohydrate 23g carbohydrate (9g sugars, Fiber 3g fiber), Protein 32g protein.
CHRISTMAS EVE LASAGNA
Steps:
- TOMATO SAUCE: In a large saucepan, heat the olive oil and add the sausage meat. Saute for about 5 minutes, chopping up the chunks as small as possible until the meat is no longer pink. Transfer the sausage to a layer of paper towel to drain off the fat and wipe most of the fat out of the pan. Add the onions and continue to stir until the onions are translucent. Add back the sausage and garlic. Stir well. Now add both the cans of tomatoes, the pesto or basil, the sugar and a little salt if needed. Let simmer for about 40 minutes. BALSAMELLA SAUCE: In a small pan, melt the butter over love heat. Do not let it brown. Remove the pan from heat and stir in the flour. Add the milk and cream and whisk it well. Then return the pan to medium heat, whisking constantly. When the sauce is thick and smooth, reduce the heat to low and cook for a couple more minutes. Taste the sauce, it should be very creamy and rich. Stir in the salt, pepper and nutmeg. Set aside to cool, or refrigerate overnight--do not let freeze outside on the deck. RICOTTA FILLING: Whisk all the ingredients together, and again, put in the refrigerator, not the freezing deck. LAYERING: Preheat the oven to 350. Find your nicest, deepest baking pan and spoon a small amount of the tomatoe sauce into the bottom of the pan. Arrange strips of lasagna over the sauce until the bottom of the pan is covered. Use one-third of the ricotta mixture for the next layer, then one-third of the balsamella sauce and one third of the mozzarella. Sprinkle a little parmesan cheese and then some of the tomato/sausage sauce. Cover with more lasagna strips and repeat the layers 2 more times, ending with the pasta strips. Cover this top layer with tomato/sausage sauce and sprinkle with parmesan cheese. Bake for 50 to 70 minutes until everything is bubbly and hot. Let the lasagna rest for about 20 minutes before serving.
CHRISTMAS EVE VEGETABLE LASAGNA
Make and share this Christmas Eve Vegetable Lasagna recipe from Food.com.
Provided by Leslie
Categories Vegetable
Time 2h20m
Yield 6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 16
Steps:
- In a large saute pan, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add onions, cook until they soften, about 5 minutes. Add zucchini and peppers. Cook until soft, about 10 minutes.
- Add spinach and season with salt and pepper. Cook until wilted, about 2 more minutes. Set the vegetable mixture aside.
- In another bowl, mix together ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese (reserving some for top layer), garlic, and italian seasoning. Season with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Set aside.
- To assemble the lasagna, start by spreading a thin layer of sauce on the bottom of a 9×13 pan. Add a layer of lasagna noodles and ricotta mixture. Add a layer of vegetables. Add shredded mozzarella. Repeat until you have used all of the ingredients. Top layer should be sauce with mozzarella and remaining parmesan.
- Bake uncovered in a preheated 350 degree oven for 1 hour 20 minutes. Let rest for 20 minutes before slicing.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 450.1, Fat 28.3, SaturatedFat 14.7, Cholesterol 81.8, Sodium 1456.2, Carbohydrate 23.5, Fiber 6.8, Sugar 12.3, Protein 29.5
Tips:
- Use fresh ingredients: Fresh ingredients will give your lasagna the best flavor. If you can, use organic produce and free-range meat.
- Make your own pasta: If you have the time, making your own pasta for the lasagna is a great way to add a personal touch. It's not as difficult as you might think, and there are plenty of recipes available online.
- Don't skimp on the cheese: Lasagna is all about the cheese, so don't be afraid to use plenty of it. A good rule of thumb is to use at least 3 cups of cheese per 9x13 inch pan.
- Layer the lasagna properly: The order of the layers is important in lasagna. Start with a layer of sauce, then add a layer of pasta, then a layer of cheese. Repeat this process until you have used up all of the ingredients.
- Bake the lasagna until it is bubbly and golden brown: The lasagna is done baking when it is bubbly and golden brown on top. This usually takes about 30 minutes in a 375 degree Fahrenheit oven.
Conclusion:
Lasagna is a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. It's perfect for a special occasion or a weeknight meal. With a little planning and effort, you can easily make a lasagna that will impress your family and friends.
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