Mexican Lasagna with Cilantro Crema

Yield: 12 servings

Ingredients

Lasagna:

9 lasagna noodles, cooked and drained as instructed on package

1 pound ground beef

1/2 cup chopped onion

1 can (4 ounce) diced green chilies (including the liquid, do not drain)

1/2 cup water

1 package taco seasoning, I prefer low sodium

1 jar (25 ounce) pasta sauce

2 eggs

1 container (15 ounce) ricotta cheese

1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

1 teaspoon cumin

4 cups (16 ounce) shredded Mexican cheese, divided

Cilantro Crema:

1 cup sour cream

1 cup heavy cream

1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro

1 tablespoon fresh lime juice

1/8 teaspoon coarse salt

Additional toppings, if desired

chopped green onion

fresh chopped cilantro

chopped tomato

shredded lettuce

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F

Prepare lasagna noodles.

Cook ground beef and onion until beef is no longer pink; drain excess grease. Stir in green chilies (with it's liquid), water and taco seasoning packet. Simmer until the liquid is absorbed. Stir in pasta sauce until mixed in with meat mixture.

In a separate bowl, beat eggs. Stir in ricotta cheese, cilantro, cumin and 2 cups of Mexican cheese.

Begin making layers as follows for a total of three layers:
Spread a small portion of meat sauce over the bottom of a 13 x 9 pan.
Top with 3 noodles laid side by side.
Spread 3/4 cup ricotta mixture over the noodles.
Spread 1 1/4 cups meat sauce over the ricotta.
Sprinkle with one third of the remaining cheese.

Repeat steps two more times.

Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 40 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for 10 minutes longer until hot and bubbly. Let stand 15 minutes before cutting.

Cilantro Crema:
In a medium bowl, whisk together sour cream and heavy cream. Add cilantro, lime juice and salt and whisk until blended.

Cover, refrigerate and let the flavors meld as the texture forms into a velvety cream that you'll want to drizzle on everything!

Drizzle Cilantro Crema over the lasagna and top with green onion, fresh cilantro, chopped tomatoes and shredded lettuce.