There are not very many, if any, generational family recipes in my house. My mom grew up on culinary masterpieces like Hamburger Helper. Every other meal was made for the sake of needing something to eat, with no reasoning or story behind it. With this lack of traditional recipes, my family comes up with our own traditions to have and enjoy with each other. 
The ‘big thing’ around the holiday times always seems to be Christmas dinner on Christmas Day. So we thought that Christmas Eve should also have a special meal, but we didn't know what to make. A typical turkey dinner sounds overused and bland because only a few months earlier, it was on our table at Thanksgiving. Its remains still linger in our freezer because we say we will make soup. The soup is never made. However, dinner still has to be something that takes time and love. Lasagna, oh my, takes a long time indeed. We have to cut the vegetables, assemble the dish and then put it in the oven for a ridiculous amount of time. Nevertheless, all of the sweat is worth it, because it is by far one of my favorite meals, and a perfect dish for Christmas Eve. 
So, every Christmas Eve, my mother and I (mostly my mother, if I am being honest) put in the work to get our meal on the table. Once it's in the oven, we usually start a Christmas movie as the smell of our creation spills from the kitchen into our living room, warmly lit by our Christmas tree. This tradition started a few years ago and has grown into a holiday staple. My mom always says that “It's an appropriate Christmas meal, because it's red and green so…very Christmassy!”.
Once it comes out of the oven, there is still more waiting for it to cool off. We typically omit this step because it's late and we are hungry. We quickly devour a good sized chunk, but there is always enough for the fridge, freezer and for breakfast tomorrow (guilty). We eat our dinner as we continue the Christmas movie binge throughout the night until our plates are empty and our bellies are full. When we can, we love to have good company, family and friends to enjoy our Christmas lasagna with. Unlike the turkey, this meal will bless our freezer like a gift for weeks to come.
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Christmas Eve Lasagna 2024

Recipe

Yields→ 1 large pan of lasagna
Prep time→ 1 hour
Cook time→1ish hour (see cook times at bottom)
Equipment:
  • 1 large frying pan
  • 1 large lasagna pan
  • A sheet of tin foil large enough to over the lasagna pan
  • Cutting board and knife
  • Mixing bowls
  • Cheese grater
  • Lemon zester
  • Oven

For the ricotta layer:
  • 2 tbsp of olive oil
  • 1 medium sized onion, diced
  • 2 cloves of garlic
  • 1 bunch of spinach
  • 1 package (475 grams) of ricotta 
  • 1 lemon’s worth of rind
  • 1 tsp of salt 
Finely dice onion and garlic, put it in a frying pan with the olive oil, cook the onions and garlic on medium-low heat until they turn translucent. 
Once onions and garlic are cooked, put the spinach in the same pan and cook until it is reduced in size and has released its water content (it should be a dark green color), then let cool.  See image at the bottom for example.
Add all the ingredients in the pan into a medium mixing bowl with ricotta, mix well. Zest the lemon, then add the rind to the bowl. Add the salt and mix until incorporated.

For the vegetable layer:
2 tbsp of olive oil
A pinch of salt and pepper to taste
1 cup of of sliced mushrooms
1 cup of sliced zucchini
½ cup of peppers, red or orange

Chop all of your veggies (mushrooms, zucchini and pepper) into big slices of medium thickness.
Add olive oil and a pinch of salt and pepper to a pan. Place the vegetables into the pan. Cover and cook on medium-low heat until soft but not mushy (remember they will be cooked again in the lasagna).
For the tomato sauce:
  • 2 jars (1500ml) of tomato sauce
  • 1 bunch of basil, chopped
  • 1 tsp of salt (optional)
Chop your basil into ribbons and combine with tomato sauce. If you think it is needed, you may add some salt (it depends if your tomato sauce already contains salt).

Assembling:
  • 1 package of oven-ready lasagna noodles
  • 2 cups of mozzarella cheese, shredded
  • ½ cup of parmesan cheese, grated
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  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (or 180 Celsius).
  2. Take the first can of tomato sauce and put half of it on the bottom of your lasagna pan, spread evenly. 
  3. Add a layer of noodles to cover the entire bottom of the pan, try not to overlap them.
  4. Layer on the ricotta mixture and add a little sprinkle of mozzarella over the top, make sure to leave the majority of the cheese for later.
  5. Add another layer of noodles.
  6. Layer on the cooked veggies (mushroom, zucchini and pepper) with a little sprinkle of mozzarella on the top.
  7. Add another layer of noodles.
  8. Add all of the remaining tomato sauce on the top and spread evenly and make sure there are no noodles uncovered by sauce.
  9. Add all remaining mozzarella and parmesan cheese to top of the lasagna.

Cooking
Cover the lasagna pan with tinfoil and put it in the oven for 40 minutes or until the sauce is bubbling and the pasta is cooked tender and soft.
Take out of the oven and remove the tinfoil before putting it back in the oven. Leave it in (uncovered) for another 10-15 minutes until the cheese is browned.
When you take it out of the oven, wait for 15 minutes for it to cool off before serving (unless you are impatient like me).
Put on your favorite Christmas movie and relax with friends and family!


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