“Big Bucks” Lasagna Bites
 
 
Ingredients
Cups
  • 454 g pkg won ton wrappers
  • (fresh vegetable section of our grocers)
  • vegetable cooking spray
Filling
  • 650 kg (1 1/2 lbs) extra-lean ground beef
  • 1/2 onion, chopped fine
  • 3 cloves garlic, diced
  • 400 ml tomato sauce
  • 1 tbsp sugar
  • 1 tsp oregano
  • 1 tsp basil
  • 1 tsp italian seasoning
  • 1/2 tsp fennel seeds
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp pink peppercorns, crushed
  • 2 tbsp flat-leaf Italian parsley
  • 1 egg, lightly beaten
  • 500 gm ricotta
  • 2 tbsp flat-leaf Italian parsley
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp nutmeg
  • 380 gm part-skim mozzarella
  • (you will have left-over)
  • medium chunk parmesan Reggiano, grated
  • 200 g pearl bocconcini
Instructions
  1. In a large skillet, fry ground beef, onions, and garlic over medium-high heat until beef is thoroughly cooked and onions are lightly browned. Remove any additional accumulated fat. Stir in the remaining ingredients in order. Simmer over medium heat until mixture has thickened somewhat. Set aside once this is done.
  2. While the meat is simmering, lightly whip the egg with a fork in a medium-sized bowl. Stir in the ricotta. Add the parsley, salt and nutmeg and stir to blend thoroughly. Set aside.
  3. Line 24 muffin tins with won ton wrappers, using two wrappers for each cup. Try to “off-set” each of the two wrappers so that the sides of each cup has 8 “peaks”. This gives each cup more depth for filling.
  4. Spray lightly with a vegetable cooking spray.
  5. Using a small spoon, fill each cup approximately 1/3 full with the meat mixture, pressing to fill the cup. If there is a bit of runny sauce, push it off to the side and just use the meat.
  6. Then fill each cup with a spoonful of the ricotta mixture, pressing again to flatten the top.
  7. Sprinkle a small amount of mozzarella, followed by a sprinkling of parmesan cheese.
  8. Top each cup with a few bocconcini pearls.
  9. Bake in the oven for about 15 minutes, until the cheese is bubbling, but not overly browned and the won ton wrappers have browned.
  10. Serve immediately or refrigerate for later.
Recipe by Just a Smidgen at https://justasmidgen.com/2012/05/28/big-bucks-lasagna-bites/