Ramen Lasagna Twist (Printable version)

Layered noodles with tomato sauce and cheeses baked to golden perfection.

# What you need:

→ Noodles

01 - 3 packs instant ramen noodles (discard seasoning packets, approx. 3 oz each)

→ Sauce

02 - 2 cups tomato pasta sauce
03 - 1 tsp dried Italian herbs (optional)
04 - 1/2 tsp garlic powder

→ Cheese

05 - 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (about 7 oz)
06 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese (about 1.75 oz)
07 - 1 cup ricotta or cottage cheese (about 9 oz)

→ Garnish (optional)

08 - Fresh basil leaves
09 - Cracked black pepper

# Steps to follow:

01 - Preheat the oven to 375°F.
02 - In a medium bowl, combine tomato sauce, dried Italian herbs, and garlic powder.
03 - In a separate bowl, blend ricotta (or cottage cheese) with half of the grated Parmesan.
04 - Lightly grease an 8x8-inch baking dish.
05 - Spread one-quarter of the tomato sauce evenly on the bottom of the dish.
06 - Place one instant ramen brick on top of the sauce, breaking it to fit if necessary.
07 - Spread one-third of the ricotta mixture over the noodles, then sprinkle one-third of the shredded mozzarella.
08 - Repeat the layering sequence (sauce, noodles, ricotta mixture, mozzarella) two more times, finishing with the remaining sauce and topping with the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
09 - Pour 1/2 cup water around the edges of the dish to assist in cooking the noodles.
10 - Cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes.
11 - Remove the foil and continue baking for another 10 minutes until the top is bubbling and golden.
12 - Allow the dish to rest for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh basil leaves and cracked black pepper if desired.

# Expert tips:

01 -
  • It transforms 99 cent ramen into something that feels like comfort food from an Italian grandmother
  • The curly edges get crispy in the oven while staying tender underneath
  • Your friends will think you spent hours when it really took 40 minutes
02 -
  • Breaking ramen bricks to fit is totally fine. The irregular pieces actually make the texture more interesting
  • The water around the edges looks scary but it evaporates and creates steam. Do not skip this step
  • Letting it rest is crucial. Cutting too soon makes everything slide apart
03 -
  • Use a glass baking dish if you have one so you can see the bubbles at the edges
  • Grate your own Parmesan if possible. Pre grated has anti caking agents that prevent smooth melting
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