Deconstructed Italian Sausage Lasagna

All the flavor of traditional lasagna, but in a fraction of the time! Lasagna noodles are broken into large pieces and cooked directly in a creamy Italian sausage sauce. A comforting meal ready in less than 30 minutes.

Lasagna reinvented in an express version: break the pasta, throw it in boiling water, and you're done.


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5 min
4
15 min

  • Ingredients

    Salt, to taste (for pasta cooking water)
    250 g (9 oz) lasagna noodles (broken into approx. 5 cm pieces)
    2 tbsp olive oil
    450 g (1 lb) mild or spicy Italian pork sausages, casings removed
    1 tbsp freshly minced garlic
    1 tbsp tomato paste
    125 ml (½ cup) dry white wine (or more chicken broth)
    250 ml (1 cup) chicken broth
    1 tbsp mixed Italian herbs (Italian seasoning)
    ½ tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
    250 ml (1 cup) heavy cream (35%)
    50 g (½ cup) freshly grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
    Flaked sea salt, to taste
    Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

  • Preparation

    1- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
    2- Break the lasagna noodles into irregular pieces about 5 cm (2 inches) directly into the boiling water.
    3- Cook according to package directions, until al dente.
    4- Reserve 250 ml (1 cup) of the cooking water, then drain.
    5- Meanwhile, in a large, deep skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat.
    6- Add the sausage meat and cook, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, until well browned, about 6 to 8 minutes.
    7- Add the garlic and tomato paste. Cook for 1 minute, stirring, until the tomato paste darkens slightly.
    8- Deglaze with white wine and reduce by half, about 2 minutes.
    9- Add the chicken broth, Italian herbs, and chili flakes (if desired). Simmer for 3 to 4 minutes.
    10- Stir in the cream and bring to a simmer. Add the drained pasta and Parmesan cheese. Mix well to coat. If the sauce is too thick, add a little of the reserved cooking water until desired consistency is reached.
    11- Taste and adjust seasoning with flake salt and pepper. Serve immediately with extra Parmesan cheese.

For the adventurers

Notes and tips

For a veggie version, replace the sausages with chopped portobello mushrooms and use vegetable broth. For more vegetables, add a handful of fresh spinach at the very end of cooking.