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Joy Behar Lasagna Recipe

The View’s Joy Behar has an extensive cooking background and loves to share recipes on the show.

Her latest creation is a traditional Italian pasta dish called Lasagne.

Lasagna is one of those dishes we all love because there are so many different ways to prepare this comfort food.

So what makes Joy Behar’s lasagne special?

What Is In Joy Behar’s Lasagna Recipe?

Joy Behar’s lasagna contains ingredients you would expect when making any type of pasta dish.

For instance, there is ricotta cheese, cream cheese, eggs, and some spices like basil and oregano.

But it also includes an unusual ingredient – mushrooms!

Mushrooms add flavor and texture to the sauce as well as being low in calories.

They can replace meat or chicken without compromising taste.

You may be surprised how tasty these little guys can be!

Other than the mushrooms, Joy Behar’s lasagne consists of three layers with fresh mozzarella between each layer.

This helps create a creamy texture while keeping the lasagna light.

There are two main types of lasagnas – baked and raw.

Baked ones have a thicker consistency due to the use of egg yolks instead of just whites.

Raw versions do not contain any eggs but they are made using vegetables such as spinach, zucchini, bell peppers, etc.

Raw lasagnas tend to get soggy if kept in the fridge too long, which is why most people prefer baking them.

If you want to go ahead and try out the Joy Behar recipe, here is everything you need to know about preparing it.

How Does Joy Behar Make Her Lasagna?

Joy Behar is not new to cooking shows and she knows how important it is to have a great lasagne recipe.

She got into the kitchen early as a child when her mother taught her how to cook with some help from her grandmother.

As time went by, she learned more about preparing meals at home or working in restaurants.

When she was a teenager, Joy worked in Italy where she fell in love with their cuisine.

One day, while shopping around town, she came across a store selling fresh pasta which made her wonder if she could make better lasagnas than they had.

She bought a few boxes of fresh pasta and started experimenting with various flavors.

After trying several combinations, she eventually settled on making a tomato-based sauce and layered it with mozzarella cheese and ricotta cheese.

At first, she thought it would be best served cold but after tasting it warm, she decided to keep it simple and serve it hot.

It didn’t take long before Joy realized that her homemade lasagna was going viral among viewers who loved to watch her on television.

To date, Joy has shared over 100 recipes on The View including her famous lasagne recipe which has been viewed more than 10 million times on YouTube alone.

What Is Joy Behar’s Favorite Lasagna Recipe?

Joy Behar shared a video recipe for her lasagna on Twitter in June 2019.

In it, she explains how to make her version of the famous Italian dish.

She also shares tips about making homemade tomato sauce as well.

In addition, Joy Behar gives us some insight into why her lasagna recipe is her “favorite.”

She says that the main ingredient is a no-cook sauce which allows you to focus on other aspects of the meal such as the noodles or meatballs.

Here’s what Joy Behar had to say about her lasagna recipe:

  • “I just use fresh tomatoes, onions and garlic, I don’t cook them at all, I’m not sure if they’re supposed to be cooked but I like my lasagna very simple.”
  • “And then I have ground beef, I usually buy it already made in bulk…you can get it frozen and defrosted and it’s pretty good quality. You put a little bit of olive oil in it and you season it and mix it together and you form your balls and roll them around in flour until they’re nice and round looking. And then you fry ’em up.”
  • “Then I take a bowl and add in the ricotta cheese and eggs and I beat that together and it becomes the béchamel mixture and then I lay down the sheets of pasta and spread the béchamel over the top. Then I cover it with more pasta and repeat again and again until I’ve used all the ingredients.”
  • “That’s it! That’s literally it!”

How Did Joy Behar Come Up With Her Lasagna Recipe?

Joy Behar grew up eating homemade lasagnas made by her grandmother who was also known as “Nonna LaLa.”

Nonna LaLa taught her how to make this popular dish from scratch using only fresh ingredients.

She then passed down these instructions to her daughter, which were then eventually passed along to Joy Behar.

She says she learned how to cook through trial and error.

In fact, when asked about her cooking skills, Joy Behar said, “I have no culinary training whatsoever.

I think it’s just instinctual.”

Her lasagna recipe uses a variety of cheeses such as mozzarella, Parmesan, Romano, and ricotta but also includes spinach or tomato sauce.

You can even add meat to your lasagna if you like!

What Are Some Of The Ingredients In Joy Behar’s Lasagna Recipe?

Joy Behar’s lasagna consists of layers of ziti pasta, meat sauce, ricotta cheese, mozzarella cheese, and Parmesan cheese.

She also suggests using fresh basil leaves as garnish at the end of your meal.

You can find more information about Joy Behar’s lasagne recipe below.

How Long Does It Take To Make Joy Behar’s Lasagna?

This recipe takes about two hours to complete.

You can start preparing the sauce and filling while you let the noodles dry out overnight.

Once you have everything ready, put them together and bake until they turn golden brown.

  • Ingredients:
  • 4 cups (1 L) ricotta cheese
  • 3 eggs
  • ½ cup (125 mL) grated Parmesan cheese
  • ¼ cup (60 mL) unsalted butter
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 8 oz (250 g)
  • 2 lbs (900 g)
  • 12 oz (350 g)
  • Noodles
  • Cooking oil spray
  • 1 tbsp parsley flakes
  • For the Béchamel Sauce:
  • 6 tbsp (90 mL) unsalted butter
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 2 tsp (10 mL) flour
  • ⅓ cup (75 mL) milk

Step 1: Boil the water and cook your noodles according to package directions.

Step 2: In a large pan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the chopped garlic and sautee for 3 minutes or until fragrant. Then add the flour and stir with a wooden spoon for 2-3 minutes. Slowly pour in the milk and mix well until smooth.

Step 3: Bring mixture to a boil then reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.

Step 4: Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190°C). Grease a 9 x 13 inch baking dish with cooking oil spray and layer half each of the ricotta, mozzarella, parmesan, and béchamel sauce into the bottom of the prepared pan.

Step 5: Cover entire surface with uncooked noodles using a spatula or spoon. Top with remaining ricotta, mozzarella, parmesan, and béchamel sauce. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.

Step 6: Bake at 375F/ 190C for 30 minutes or until hot throughout.

Joy Behar’s lasagna is absolutely delicious! If you want to try making her famous dish, follow these tips below:

What Is The History Of Lasagna?

Lasagna can be traced back to 13th-century Italy where its origins were as simple as boiling meat in water with cheese and herbs added.

Over time, people started adding more ingredients such as eggs, vegetables, and even spices like cinnamon or nutmeg.

By 1530, lasagna was being made by mixing boiled noodles with ricotta (a soft cheese similar to cottage cheese) and seasonings.

During World War II, lasagna became popular throughout Europe when rations were limited.

In America, lasagna became known as “the poor man’s macaroni and cheese” due to its affordability compared to other meals.

In modern times, there are two main types of lasagna – sheeted and rolled.

Sheeted lasagnas contain layers of pasta sheets while rolled lasagnas have layers of dough.

Both versions come together quickly and easily thanks to their convenience.

Where Did Joy Behar Learn To Make Lasagna?

Joy Behar was born in Queens, New York City in 1947. She attended Hunter College where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology.

After college, her parents encouraged her to move out into the world and pursue her dream job as a journalist. In 1972, Behar began working at WABC-TV as a reporter and producer.

She worked at WABC until 1980 when she moved to CNN to become a senior correspondent covering national news stories.

In 1984, she became the chief anchor of ABC World News Tonight.

Behar left ABC in 1991 to join NBC Nightly News as its co-anchor alongside Tom Brokaw.

From 1993 to 1999, Behar served as the moderator of Meet the Press.

After leaving Meet the Press, she joined The View as co-host alongside Whoopi Goldberg and Elisabeth Hasselbeck.

Behar currently serves as the show’s permanent co-host.

While Joy Behar may not have been raised in Italy, it seems like she learned how to cook Italian cuisine during her time at WABC.

On the February 15th episode of The View, Behar shared some interesting tips about making lasagna.

What Is The Nutritional Value Of Joy Behar’s Lasagna Recipe?

Joy Behar’s lasagna contains no meat or dairy products but does contain cheese, olive oil, tomatoes, spinach, red pepper flakes, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano and basil.

A single serving of Joy Behar’s lasagna provides 441 calories (14% daily value), 24 grams protein (8% DV), 39 grams carbohydrates (15% DV) as well as 20 grams fat (10% DV).

It also contains 30 milligrams sodium and 10 percent of your recommended dietary fiber intake.

You can eat 1/4 cup of cooked pasta with sauce in place of another meal during the day.

You should be able to get at least five small servings out of the recipe if you follow directions carefully.

If you want to go even more nutritious, you could substitute half of the noodles with zucchini noodles instead!

What Are Some

Here are just some of the reasons why Joy Behar’s lasagne recipe stands out among other versions of this delicious dish:

  • It uses only two ingredients – mozzarella cheese and ricotta (also known as crema)
  • No need to use eggs or cream in this version of the dish
  • It does not require any meat or vegetables
  • There is no need to cook it before serving
  • Joy Behar serves her lasagne with homemade tomato sauce
  • The whole thing can be prepared in about 40 minutes
  • Even if you do not have time to make your own tomato sauce, Joy Behar recommends using store-bought varieties instead
  • You can serve it hot or cold
  • If you want to add more flavor, you can sprinkle Parmesan cheese over top

So how do you make Joy Behar’s lasagne recipe at home? Read below!

Joy Behar Lasagna Recipe

Lasagna is one of those dishes we all love because there are so many different ways to prepare this comfort food.
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Servings: 6
Calories: 411kcal

Equipment

  • The Oven

Ingredients

  • 1/2 box Lasagna Noodles
  • 1 cup Chopped Onion
  • 2 Garlic Cloves
  • 1 1/2 lbs Sweet Italian Sausage
  • 2 tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • 1 28 oz Crushed Italian Tomatoes
  • 1 6 oz Tomato Paste
  • 1 16 oz jar Marinara Sauce
  • 1/4 cup Fresh Oregano
  • 1/2 cup Fresh Basil
  • 2 teaspoons Sea Salt
  • 3/4 teaspoons Pepper
  • 1 lb Whole Milk Ricotta Cheese
  • 1 cup Parmesan Cheese
  • 1 large Egg
  • 1/4 cup Chopped Parsley
  • 1/4 cup Parmesan Cheese

Instructions

  • Set the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Place the oven rack in the center. for 20 minutes, soak the lasagna noodles in hot tap water.
  • In the meantime, prepare your sauce and dry them with paper towels.

TO MAKE THE SAUCE:

  • In a big pan with olive oil already heated, add chopped onion. Cook until transparent over low heat (about 5 minutes). Stir for an additional minute after adding the garlic.
  • When adding tomato paste, stir it regularly to prevent burning.
  • Add the oregano, basil, sea salt, and freshly ground black pepper. Also include the crushed tomatoes. 20 minutes of uncovered simmering at a low temperature.

TO COOK THE SAUSAGE:

  • Have a casing roll ready. Add some water to the pan and puncture the casing to let the fat drain for 10 to 15 minutes.
  • When finished, make coins.

TO PREPARE THE CHEESE FILLING:

  • Make the cheese filling while the sauce and sausage are cooking.
  • Ricotta, a cup of Parmesan, beaten eggs, chopped parsley, sea salt, and freshly ground black pepper should all be combined in a big bowl. Place aside

TO ASSEMBLE THE LAYERS:

  • Pour one-third of the meat sauce into a 9″ x 13″ x 2″ casserole to start assembling the layers.
  • The dish’s base should be covered with a ladle of sauce.
  • After that, add around half the pasta (cover the sauce with the noodles in a single layer), half the mozzarella slices, half the sausage, half the cheese mixture, and one third of the sauce.
  • Add one more layer of noodles, followed by the remaining mozzarella, sausage, ricotta, and sauce.

TO BAKE:

  • Bake the dish uncovered for 35 minutes, or until the sauce is bubbling, and then sprinkle the remaining 1/4 cup of Parmesan over it.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 411kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 30g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 0.003g | Cholesterol: 102mg | Sodium: 3289mg | Potassium: 1277mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin A: 1863IU | Vitamin C: 64mg | Calcium: 386mg | Iron: 16mg
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