Spicy Vodka Lasagna
Like a traditional lasagna, but better. This dish has layers of vodka sauce, spicy Italian sausage, and a ricotta mixture so it’s even more rich, creamy, and flavorful than ever. It’s truly is my ultimate comfort meal.
Vodka Sauce is the best of both worlds in my opinion. It’s robust like a tomato sauce but silky and creamy like an alfredo sauce. I like to make mine a little spicy and I always add some meat in it when I have it in my fridge. But Vodka Sauce is so versatile. Sometimes I make it vegetarian and leave out the meat. Sometimes I add extra vegetables in it like dark leafy greens or mushrooms. And sometimes I make it completely dairy free and used plant-based milk instead of cream or half and half.
Here are the Ingredients for this Vodka Sauce Lasagna:
Vegetables - Shallot, Garlic
Seasonings - Salt, Pepper, Red Pepper Flakes
Dairy - Riccota, Butter, Half & Half, Mozzarella, Parmesan
Pantry - Crushed Tomatoes, Tomato Paste, Olive Oil, Vodka, Lasagna Noodles
Protein - Egg, Hot Italian Sausage
Herbs - Parsley
Spicy Vodka Sauce Lasagna
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cup ricotta cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley
- 1 egg
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 cup parmesan
- 1 lb hot Italian sausage
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 3 tbsp butter
- 1 large shallot, diced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tbsp red pepper flakes
- 6 oz tomato paste
- 2 shots vodka
- 3 1/2 cups half & half
- 1 cup crushed tomatoes
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 lb lasagna noodles
- 1 cup mozzarella
- 1/4 parmesan
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 F.
- To make ricotta mixture, whisk ingredients together and set aside.
- Make the sauce by browning the ground hot Italian sausage in a large sauce pot. Once browned, remove from pan and set aside. Remove any excess grease fromt the sausage.
- Melt the butter in the pan on low and saute the shallot and garlic until softened. Then add in the red pepper flakes.
- Stir in the tomato paste and cook until the paste is a dark red (about 5 minutes).
- Add in the vodka and stir until it has cooked down all the way and evaporated.
- Add in the half & half, a 1/2 cup at a time until it is all in the sauce. Then stir in 1 cup of crushed tomatoes. Cook on low until sauce has thickened. Season with the salt and pepper.
- Add a thin layer of the vodka sauce to the bottom of the lasagna pan. Then add the sausage into the rest of the vodka sauce.
- Start to layer the lasagna. Add a layer of the lasagna noodles first, then more of the vodka sauce with the sausage, then a ricotta layer, then lasagna noodles, then sauce, then lasagna noodles, then ricotta, then your last lasagna noodle layer. Sprinkle on 1 cup of mozzarella and then pour the rest of the sauce overtop.
- Sprinkle on the parmesan and bake for 30 minutes uncovered.
- Let sit for at least 10 minutes before serving & enjoy!
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