Italian Sausage Lasagna

Another recipe of mine that I have tweaked over the years, that will probably change again!

• Ready In: 1 hr 35 mins
• Serves: 8

Ingredients

• 1 (9 ounce) package  no-boil lasagna noodles
• 1  lb mild Italian sausage
• 1  medium onion, chopped
• 28  ounces whole canned tomatoes (undrained)
• 12  ounces tomato paste
• 2  teaspoons sugar
• 1⁄4 cup fresh basil, torn into small pieces
• 1⁄4 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground
• 15  ounces ricotta cheese
• 1  egg, beaten
• 2  tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
• 1⁄2 teaspoon sea salt
• 3⁄4 cup parmigiano-reggiano cheese, grated
• 4  cups mozzarella cheese, grated

Directions

1. Crumble Italian sausage into a large skillet. Brown sausage until no longer pink and drain onto paper towels. Wipe out skillet with paper towels. Add 1 tablespoon olive oil to pan and heat until shimmering. Add onion and saute until translucent.
2. Stir in the cooked Italian sausage, tomatoes (undrained), tomato paste, sugar, half of the basil and the pepper. Bring to boil then reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 20-30 minutes, stirring occasionally and breaking up the tomatoes with the back of a spoon.
3. In a small bowl blend ricotta, egg, parsley, Parmaigano-Reggiano and 1/2 teaspoon salt.
4. Put a layer of noodles in a 9 X 13 pan, a layer of meat sauce, layer of ricotta mixture and a layer of the cheese then repeat all the layers twice more. Cover with foil.
5. Bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake 20 minutes more. Let stand 10 minutes before cutting and serving.