Loaf Pan Lasagna Recipe

1. In a medium skillet over medium-high heat, add 1 tablespoon of the oil.

2. Either slice the sausage into rounds or remove the casing from the sausage by slicing lengthwise down the side, then cook it like ground sausage.

3. When the oil shimmers, add the sausage to the pan and cook for about 6 minutes or until browned. Use a cooking utensil to break the sausage while cooking. Transfer to a plate.

4. Open the can of tomatoes and use a large pair of scissors to snip and break them up in the can into chunky pieces.

5. In the same skillet used to brown the sausage, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium heat. Add the sliced garlic and oregano.

6. Cook for 30 seconds, or until the garlic sizzles. Add the tomatoes with their juices, salt, and sugar. Bring to a simmer and cook for 2 to 3 minutes or until the sauce is hot.

7. Use a potato masher to break up the tomatoes into smaller pieces (this is easiest to do when tomatoes soften in the heat) to get a chunky sauce.

8. Add the sausage back to the pan and cook for 10 minutes. Taste, and add more salt and sugar, if desired.

9. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, stir the egg, ricotta, Parmesan, nutmeg, and pepper together.

10. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Brush or spray a 4×8-inch loaf pan with oil.

To Assemble:

1. In the bottom of the loaf pan, ladle about ½ cup tomato-sausage sauce. Top with 1 noodle. Spread with ½ cup sauce, and then spread ⅓ mounded cup of the ricotta mixture over it.

2. Place the second noodle on top of the sauce. Spread ⅓ mounded cup ricotta mixture over it, and top with ½ cup tomato-sausage sauce.

3. Place the third noodle on top of the sauce. Spread with remaining ricotta and spoon ½ cup tomato-sausage sauce over it, using up all of the remaining sausage pieces in this layer.

4. Place the fourth noodle on top of the sauce and spoon the remaining sauce on top. Sprinkle with the mozzarella.

To Bake:

1. Place the loaf pan on a baking sheet. Fold a large piece of foil in half and fold it in half again. Make a tent over the loaf pan (so it does not stick to the cheese.) Bake for 25 minutes.

2. Remove the pan from the oven and remove the foil tent. Check to see if the lasagna is uneven or if it peaks in the middle. If it’s uneven, use the back of a spoon to press the top layer lightly to make it level in the loaf pan and submerge the noodles in the sauce.

3. Turn the oven down to 375 degrees F. Return lasagna to the oven and continue to bake for 15 minutes, or until the sauce bubbles and the cheese is golden brown. (For stretchy rather than browned cheese, check after 10 minutes.)

4. Allow the lasagna to rest for 10 minutes before serving. Sprinkle with chopped parsley, if desired.