Mendosa Lasagna

This comforting "Mendosa Lasagna" is a creative twist on traditional Italian layers, swapping pasta for soft tortillas to create a Tex-Mex inspired casserole. The base features a robust sauce made from hot Italian sausage, sautéed onions, and green peppers, simmered with diced tomatoes, chili powder, and Worcestershire sauce for deep, savory flavor. Inside, a rich filling of smooth ricotta cheese, shredded cheddar, and chopped pickled jalapeños adds creaminess and a gentle kick of heat. It's the perfect weeknight dinner for families who love bold flavors and cheesy, bubbly gratins. Easy to assemble with pantry staples, this dish bakes up golden and gooey, offering a satisfying meal that feels both rustic and indulgent. Serve it warm for a cozy evening at home.

Cooking Method: Baking, Stewing

Cuisine: Italian

Courses: Main Courses

Difficulty: Advanced

Servings: 4

Calories: 1184.7

Description

This comforting "Mendosa Lasagna" is a creative twist on traditional Italian layers, swapping pasta for soft tortillas to create a Tex-Mex inspired casserole. The base features a robust sauce made from hot Italian sausage, sautéed onions, and green peppers, simmered with diced tomatoes, chili powder, and Worcestershire sauce for deep, savory flavor. Inside, a rich filling of smooth ricotta cheese, shredded cheddar, and chopped pickled jalapeños adds creaminess and a gentle kick of heat. It's the perfect weeknight dinner for families who love bold flavors and cheesy, bubbly gratins. Easy to assemble with pantry staples, this dish bakes up golden and gooey, offering a satisfying meal that feels both rustic and indulgent. Serve it warm for a cozy evening at home.

Directions

1
Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C).
2
Remove the casings from the hot Italian sausage and crumble the meat into small pieces.
3
Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add the sausage, chopped onion, and chopped green pepper.
4
Cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sausage is browned and the vegetables have softened.
5
Drain any excess grease from the skillet.
6
Stir in the diced tomatoes, chili powder, and Worcestershire sauce.
7
Reduce heat to low and let the sauce simmer for 5 minutes to allow flavors to meld.
8
In a mixing bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, 1 1/2 cups of the shredded cheddar, and the chopped pickled jalapeños. Mix well.
9
Spread a thin layer of the tomato sauce on the bottom of a 13x9-inch baking dish.
10
Layer 2 tortillas over the sauce, then spread half of the remaining tomato sauce over them.
11
Spread half of the ricotta cheese mixture evenly over the sauce layer.
12
Repeat the layers: add 2 more tortillas, the remaining sauce, and the rest of the ricotta mixture.
13
Top with the final 2 tortillas and sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup of shredded cheddar cheese over the top.
14
Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the edges are bubbling.
15
Remove from the oven and let stand for 5 minutes before slicing and serving.

Nutrition Facts

Servings 4 servings

Amount Per Serving
Calories 1184.7kcal

% Daily Value *
Total Fat 78.8g122%
Saturated Fat 42.8g214%
Cholesterol 238.1mg80%
Sodium 1945.0mg82%
Total Carbohydrate 41.7g14%
Dietary Fiber 10.8g44%
Sugars 25.5g
Protein 79.0g158%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

Keywords: lasagna, tortilla, sausage, ricotta, cheddar, jalapeno, casserole, baked, italian, mexican, fusion, cheese, dinner, comfort food, family meal, spicy, savory, easy, weeknight, hearty

Read it online: https://www.chefs-mate.com/recipe/mendosa-lasagna/