Hearty Lasagna Soup

VIDEO LINK: https://youtu.be/chqsNKUu0_k

Yields: 10-12 servings         Prep time: 20 minutes        Cook time: 60 minutes

Ingredients: 

• ¼ cup of olive oil 
• 1 lg. Onion (diced) 
• 3-4 cloves of garlic (minced) 
• 2 bay leaves 
• 1 lb. of ground beef (chuck) 
• 1 lb. of ground sausage (mild or hot) 
• ½ cup of red wine 
• 2 tsp. of salt 
• ½ tsp. of black pepper 
• 12 oz. can of tomato paste 
• 28 oz. can of crushed tomatoes 
• 1 Qt. of beef broth 
• 2 Qt. of chicken broth 
• 1 pint of heavy cream 
• 10 oz. of broken Lasagna noodles 
• 1 cup of grated Parmesan cheese 
• 1 tsp. of chopped Italian parsley 
• 32 oz. of whole-milk ricotta 
• 16 oz. of shredded mozzarella

Instructions:

1. Prep the Aromatics: Chop onion and mince garlic. 

2. Sauté Vegetables: In an 8-quart pot, heat olive oil over high heat. Add onion, garlic, and bay leaves. Sauté until the vegetables become tender, approximately 5 minutes. 

3. Cook the Meats: Add ground beef and sausage to the pot. Season with 1 tsp. of salt and ½ teaspoon of black pepper. Cook until the meat is fully cooked. 

4. Deglaze the Pot: Remove excess grease from the pot. Add wine and tomato paste. Cook for 2 minutes. 

5. Simmer the Sauce: Add crushed tomatoes and cook for 5 minutes.

 6. Combine Broths: Add beef broth and chicken broth to the pot. Bring to a boil. 

7. Cook the Noodles: Once the soup comes to a boil, add lasagna noodles and cook for 5-6 minutes. 

8. Finish and Simmer: Stir in heavy cream and Parmesan cheese. Cook for an additional 6 minutes. 

9. Prepare Ricotta Topping: In a mixing bowl, combine ricotta cheese, tbsp. of chopped parsley, ½ tsp. of salt and ¼ tsp. of black pepper. Mix well until thoroughly combined. 

10. Serve: Top a spoon full of the ricotta mixture and shredded mozzarella in each bowl and serve. Enjoy your delicious Lasagna Soup!