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Ingredients

  • 12 Roma tomatoes
  • ½ cup chopped parsley
  • ¾ cup chopped basil
  • ½ cup chopped spinach
  • 12 garlic cloves
  • 2 white onions divided
  • 1 10 oz can Rotel green chiles and tomatoes drained
  • 2 tablespoons Italian seasoning
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 ½ pound ground beef
  • 1 pound sweet italian sausage
  • 1 pound chopped mushrooms
  • Red RIver Ranch Original or seasoning of your choice
  • 1 teaspoon fennel seed
  • ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • ½ stick butter
  • 8 oz can tomato paste
  • 1 ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • ½ cup dry red wine
  • 2 pounds whole milk ricotta cheese
  • 8 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese diced
  • 16 ounces mozzarella cheese shredded (divided)
  • ½ cup minced spinach or parsley
  • cup grated jalapenos
  • 1 lb. lasagna noodles
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 cup shredded Parmesan
  • 1 – 2 teaspoons crushed red pepper

Instructions

  • Place the tomatoes in a large saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a boil until the skins crack. Remove the tomatoes place in cold water for a few minutes. Peel and add to a blender. To the blender add the parsley, basil, spinach, garlic cloves, 1 onion (quartered), Rotel, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, olive oil and Worcestershire sauce. Blend until smooth. Set aside.
  • Crumble the beef and Italian sausage in a skillet over medium heat. Cook for about 4 minutes or until it begins to brown, stirring occasionally. Stir in the mushrooms, Original seasoning, fennel seeds and pepper flakes. Cook until the meat has completely browned.
  • Pour the beef mixture into a stock pot. Pour in half the contents of the blender into the pot. Reserve the other half in the blender. Set aside.
  • Return to the skillet and add the butter and remaining 1 white onion (chopped). Cook for about 3 minutes or until the onions are tender.
  • Stir in tomato paste and bring it to a simmer stirring constantly for about 2 to 3 minutes to brown the sauce just a little.
  • Add the tomato paste mixture to the remaining ingredients in the blender. Add the black pepper and olive oil. Blend until smooth.
  • Stir the blender contents into the stock pot with the meat and sauce.
  • Stir in the red wine. Cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, for 3 hours.
  • Meanwhile, in a medium bowl mix together the ricotta, diced mozzarella, 8 oz. of the grated mozzarella, spinach and jalapenos. Stir in the eggs until smooth. Set aside.
  • In a large stockpot add the noodles and cover with water. Stir in a pinch of salt and 2 tablespoons olive oil. Cook for about 3 minutes or until al dente. Remove the noodles from the pot and place in cold water.
  • In a large deep casserole dish or 12-inch Dutch oven, place a thin layer of the meat sauce on the bottom. Top with a layer of noodles, meat sauce and ⅓ of the cheese mixtures. Top with the noodles laying in the opposite direction of the first layer followed by meat sauce, cheese mixture until all the ingredients are used.
  • Sprinkle the top with the remaining 8 oz grated shredded Mozzarella, Parmesan cheese, red pepper flakes.
  • Cover with tinfoil and bake at 375 degrees F. for 25 to 30 minutes, then remove the foil. Continue cooking another 25 to 30 minutes or until the top is a light golden brown.
  • Remove from the oven and let rest for 20 minutes then cut into squares and serve.