Lasagna for Two

Adapted from a recipe in Cooking For Two 2009 from America's Test Kitchen. If you're feeling ambitious, you can make your own ricotta (try Microwave Ricotta for a fast way); you will need about 1 1/2 quarts of milk to make the necessary ricotta. Do not use fat-free ricotta (or skim milk, if making your own).

• Ready In: 1 hr 5 mins
• Serves: 2-3

Ingredients

• Sauce

• 1  tablespoon olive oil
• 1  small onion, minced (about 1/2 cup)
• 1⁄8 teaspoon table salt or 1⁄4 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste
• 2  garlic cloves, minced finely
• 1⁄2 lb  meatloaf mix
• 2  tablespoons heavy cream
• 1 (14 1/2ounce) can diced tomatoes, drained and 1/4 c juice reserved
• 1⁄4 cup tomato juice, drained from can as above (included for calorie count)
• 1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
•  ground black pepper, to taste

• Filling etc

• 1⁄4 lb whole milk ricotta cheese (about 1/2 cup) or 1⁄4 lb part-skim ricotta cheese (about 1/2 cup)
• 1  ounce parmesan cheese, grated (about 1/2 cup)
• 2  tablespoons  chopped fresh basil
• 1  large egg, lightly beaten
• 1⁄8 teaspoon table salt or 1⁄4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1⁄8 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 4  no-boil lasagna noodles
• 1⁄4 lb  whole-milk mozzarella cheese, shredded (about 1 cup)
• 2  tablespoons  grated parmesan cheese

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400°F.
2. In a large skillet over medium heat, heat oil until shimmering. Add onion and 1/8 tsp table salt (or 1/4 tsp kosher salt). Cook until soft, 3-5 minutes. Add garlic and stir until fragrant, 30-60 seconds. Add meat and cook, breaking up with the edge of a spoon, until no longer pink, 2-3 minutes.
3. Add cream, bring to a simmer and cook until dry, about 2 minutes. Add drained tomatoes, reserved juice, and tomato sauce. Bring to a simmer and cook until flavors are blended, 3-5 minute Add salt and pepper to taste.
4. In a bowl, stir together ricotta, 1 oz (1/2 c) grated Parmesan, basil, egg, salt and pepper.
5. Spread 1/2 c sauce in the bottom of a 9x5 loaf pan (try not to get large chunks of meat in this layer). Place 1 noodle in pan. Cover noodle with one-third of the cheese mixture. Sprinkle with 1/4 c mozzarella shreds, then another 1/2 c sauce.
6. Repeat the process, starting with another noodle, twice more. Place the fourth noodle on top, cover with the last 1 c sauce and the remaining 1/4 c mozzarella. Sprinkle with the remaining 2 T Parmesan.
7. Spray a piece of foil with non-stick spray and cover pan tightly. Place on a cookie sheet and bake until bubbling around edges, 25-30 minutes. Remove foil and bake until cheese begins to brown, another 10 minutes, or so. Let cool at room temperature 20 minutes before slicing and serving.