Hearty Homestyle Lasagna

1. Make the sauce

Heat the olive oil in a large, heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat until it shimmers. Add the Italian sausage, if using, and cook it for about five minutes, stirring occasionally until it begins to brown but isn’t crisp.

2. Add onion and garlic

Add the finely chopped onion and garlic, seasoning with a pinch of kosher salt and freshly ground pepper. Cook this mixture for 8-10 minutes, until the onion is softened and translucent.

3. Stir in tomato paste

Stir in the tomato paste, cooking it for about two minutes until it turns a brick red and the oil turns a tinged orange.

4. Add tomatoes and water

Crush the whole tomatoes by hand and add them to the pot along with the crushed tomatoes. Fill the empty tomato can halfway with water, add it to the pot, and season again with salt and pepper. Bring the sauce to a simmer and let it cook for 20-30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it thickens and the flavors meld beautifully.

5. Preheat the oven

As the sauce simmers, preheat your oven to 375 degrees.

6. Prepare boiling water

Set a large pot of salted water to boil.

7. Set aside mozzarella

While waiting for the water to boil, set aside one cup of the grated mozzarella.

8. Combine cheese mixture

In a medium bowl, combine the remaining mozzarella, ricotta, Parmesan, and heavy cream, seasoning the mixture with salt and pepper.

9. Cook lasagna noodles

Cook the lasagna noodles in the boiling water for about four minutes until they are just softened and pliable but not fully al dente. Drain the noodles and separate them, slicking them with a bit of olive oil to prevent sticking.

10. Assemble lasagna

Begin assembling your lasagna by spooning some of the sauce onto the bottom of a 3-quart baking dish. Lay down a layer of lasagna noodles over the sauce. Top the noodles with 1.25 cups of sauce and dollop on 0.25 of the cheese mixture. Repeat these layers three more times. Finish with a final layer of noodles, the remaining sauce, the reserved mozzarella, and extra Parmesan if desired.

11. Bake lasagna

Cover the dish loosely with aluminum foil and place it on a foil-lined rimmed baking sheet to catch any overflow. Bake the lasagna in the preheated oven for 30-40 minutes until the pasta is tender and the sauce is bubbling.

12. Brown the top

Remove the foil, increase the oven temperature to 450 degrees, and continue baking for another 15-20 minutes until the top is golden brown and the edges are crispy. Let the lasagna cool slightly before serving, allowing it to set and making it easier to cut and serve.