Lasagna, a classic dish of Italian cuisine, is a delectable combination of flat pasta sheets, rich sauces, and layers of cheese. This beloved dish originated in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy and has gained immense popularity worldwide.
Lasagna's versatility allows for various interpretations, with each region adding its unique touch. The traditional lasagna Bolognese features a hearty ragù sauce made with ground beef, pork, and vegetables, while lasagna al pesto showcases the aromatic flavors of basil pesto. For seafood lovers, lasagna ai frutti di mare offers a delightful blend of shrimp, mussels, and calamari. Vegetarian lasagna, with its medley of roasted vegetables and creamy béchamel sauce, caters to those who prefer a meatless option.
Each lasagna recipe in this article captures the essence of these variations, providing step-by-step instructions and a detailed ingredient list. Whether you're a seasoned cook or a novice in the kitchen, you'll find everything you need to create an authentic Italian lasagna that will impress your family and friends.
CLASSIC ITALIAN LASAGNE
Theo Randall shares his authentic Italian lasagne recipe, with a creamy béchamel sauce and classic defined layers. Everyone's favourite family meal
Provided by Theo Randall
Categories Dinner, Main course
Time 3h30m
Number Of Ingredients 19
Steps:
- For the ragu, melt the butter in a large flameproof casserole dish over a medium heat until foaming. Add the celery, carrot, onion, porcini, rosemary and some seasoning, and fry for 5 mins.
- Season the meat, add to the dish and cook for 5 mins until browned. Pour in the wine, add the tomatoes and bring to the boil.
- Reduce the heat to low, put the lid on the dish and cook for 1hr 30 mins, removing the lid for the final 30 mins so the sauce can reduce. The meat should be tender but not too broken up, and the sauce should be thick. Taste for seasoning. You can cook it for longer if you have time - the flavour will only improve.
- For the béchamel sauce, pour the milk into a saucepan with the bay leaf. Bring to a simmer, turn off the heat and set aside. In a heavy-based saucepan, melt the butter over a medium heat, then whisk in the flour and hot milk. Whisk vigorously until smooth, then cook for 10-15 mins until very thick. Remove the bay leaf and season, grating in nutmeg to taste. Stir in the parmesan and egg yolks, then set aside to cool.
- Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Working in batches of three, plunge the pasta sheets into a pan of boiling salted water for 20 secs, just to soften, then immediately put in a bowl of ice-cold water.
- Rub oil onto the base and sides of a large baking dish. Put a layer of pasta on the base, then add a layer of ragu, followed by a layer of béchamel sauce. A good tip, for really defined layers, is to pipe the béchamel sauce over.
- Repeat this process until you have used all the pasta and ragu, and finish with a layer of béchamel sauce on top. Sprinkle the top with a generous layer of parmesan.
- Bake in the oven for 40-45 mins or until bubbling and golden brown, then remove from the oven and leave to settle for 10 mins.
- Cut the lasagne into squares and let it sit for another 10 mins before serving - this keeps the layers defined and helps it cool down more quickly.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 729 calories, Fat 42 grams fat, SaturatedFat 23 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 38 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 9 grams sugar, Fiber 2 grams fiber, Protein 45 grams protein, Sodium 0.6 milligram of sodium
WORLD'S BEST LASAGNA
It takes a little work, but it is worth it.
Provided by John Chandler
Categories World Cuisine Recipes European Italian
Time 3h15m
Yield 12
Number Of Ingredients 20
Steps:
- In a Dutch oven, cook sausage, ground beef, onion, and garlic over medium heat until well browned. Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, tomato sauce, and water. Season with sugar, basil, fennel seeds, Italian seasoning, 1 teaspoon salt, pepper, and 2 tablespoons parsley. Simmer, covered, for about 1 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally.
- Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook lasagna noodles in boiling water for 8 to 10 minutes. Drain noodles, and rinse with cold water. In a mixing bowl, combine ricotta cheese with egg, remaining parsley, and 1/2 teaspoon salt.
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
- To assemble, spread 1 1/2 cups of meat sauce in the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking dish. Arrange 6 noodles lengthwise over meat sauce. Spread with one half of the ricotta cheese mixture. Top with a third of mozzarella cheese slices. Spoon 1 1/2 cups meat sauce over mozzarella, and sprinkle with 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese. Repeat layers, and top with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. Cover with foil: to prevent sticking, either spray foil with cooking spray, or make sure the foil does not touch the cheese.
- Bake in preheated oven for 25 minutes. Remove foil, and bake an additional 25 minutes. Cool for 15 minutes before serving.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 448.2 calories, Carbohydrate 36.5 g, Cholesterol 81.8 mg, Fat 21.3 g, Fiber 4 g, Protein 29.7 g, SaturatedFat 9.9 g, Sodium 1400.4 mg, Sugar 8.6 g
AUTHENTIC ITALIAN LASAGNE
Categories Ham Pasta Mother's Day Easter Casserole/Gratin Cheese Father's Day Fourth of July Thanksgiving New Year's Eve Super Bowl Bake Kid-Friendly Dinner Lunch
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Over medium heat melt 4 tbsp butter in a sauce pan and sauté the onion, celery and the chopped prosciutto for about 3-4 minutes.
- Add the ground beef and let them brown nicely, stirring constantly. Stir in the wine a little at a time until it is completely incorporated.
- At this point add the chicken stock, pomodoro sauce and salt to taste. Cover and cook on a very low flame for an hour and a half, stirring occasionally. Add more broth if necessary.
- Preheat oven to 400°F.
- Cook the pasta as directed for al dente. Drain and set on parchment paper on a baking sheet. Drizzle a little olive oil on the top of the pasta so the next layer won't stick.
- Brush a high-sided 9-by-13-inch (23-by-33-cm) baking pan with butter and place it on top of a baking sheet to catch any potential overflow. Cover the bottom of the pan with a layer of lasagne, Put a half of the meat sauce, 1/3 of béchamel sauce and 1/3 of the parmigiano-reggiano cheese. Repeat this for the next layer, and top with a layer of lasagne. Cover with the remaining béchamel, Parmigiano-Reggiano and remaining tablespoons of butter.
- Bake at 400°F for 20 minutes. Let rest 15 minutes before cutting and serving.
BEST ITALIAN LASAGNA EVER!
This is the best lasagna recipe I have ever made. I had one lasagna several years ago that was out of this world and while this is not the same one, it is the closest one I have ever found. I like to make two and freeze one for later use.
Provided by alhardin
Categories Kid Friendly
Time 1h20m
Yield 1 lasagna, 8-12 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- Boil noodles and drain (you may also use uncooked noodles).
- Sauté garlic, sugar and salt.
- Add sausage and ground beef and brown, breaking into small crumbles.
- Add basil, pepper, tomatoes and paste; simmer 20-30 minutes until sauce thickens.
- Mix together in bowl, ricotta, egg and parsley (add milk if it's too thick).
- Layer sauce to cover bottom of pan, noodles 1/2 of ricotta mixture, 1/4 c of parmesan, noodles, ricotta, mozzarella, sauce and parmesan.
- Bake covered for 25 minutes.
- Uncover and bake another 25 minutes.
- Let cool about 10-15 minutes then cut and serve.
- Leftovers may be frozen and then heated in the oven until hot and melty.
- Goes great with crusty garlic toast and a salad.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 890.3, Fat 53, SaturatedFat 26.2, Cholesterol 196.3, Sodium 2022, Carbohydrate 47.7, Fiber 3.8, Sugar 12.5, Protein 55.6
TRADITIONAL ITALIAN LASAGNA
Make and share this Traditional Italian Lasagna recipe from Food.com.
Provided by davethespread
Categories Lunch/Snacks
Time 1h45m
Yield 4-6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 21
Steps:
- Heat oil in a large pan; add the finely chopped onion, carrot, mushrooms, bacon, crushed garlic and celery (saving a couple of slices of onion, carrot and celery for bechamel sauce). Fry while stirring for 1-2 minutes; add the beef and cook over high heat for further 2 minutes.
- Stir in tomatoes and juices, tomato puree, wine, beef stock, 1 bay leaf, and seasoning. Bring to boil; reduce the heat to a simmer cover and cook for 35 minutes.
- meanwhile put the milk into a pan,add the saved slices of onion,carrot,celery,6 peppercorns and other bayleaf,bring slowly to the boil,then remove from the heat cover and leave to infuse for 15 minutes.
- Make the bechamel sauce.
- Strain infused milk into a jug. Melt butter in a saucepan; add the flour and cook over a low heat stirring with a wooden spoon for 2 minutes. Remove from heat and gradually blend in the milk to prevent lumps. Bring to boil slowly stirring all the time until it thickens; season.
- Brush baking dish with butter. Spoon 1/3 of meat sauce into dish, cover with 4 or so sheets of lasagne, then 1 third of bechamel sauce. Repeat twice more. Sprinkle top with parmesan.
- Bake in a preheated oven 180c for 45 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 832, Fat 58.1, SaturatedFat 28.9, Cholesterol 176.2, Sodium 668.6, Carbohydrate 35.3, Fiber 2.6, Sugar 4.6, Protein 37.4
Tips:
- Use fresh ingredients: Fresh, high-quality ingredients will make a big difference in the flavor of your lasagna. Use fresh herbs, vegetables, and meat, and avoid using pre-packaged or processed ingredients whenever possible.
- Don't overcook the pasta: Lasagna noodles should be cooked al dente, or slightly firm to the bite. Overcooked noodles will become mushy and ruin the texture of the lasagna.
- Use a variety of cheeses: A combination of different cheeses will give your lasagna a more complex and flavorful taste. Use a mixture of hard and soft cheeses, such as Parmesan, mozzarella, ricotta, and provolone.
- Don't skimp on the sauce: The sauce is the heart of the lasagna, so make sure to use a flavorful and robust sauce. Use a combination of fresh tomatoes, herbs, and spices to create a sauce that is both delicious and authentically Italian.
- Let the lasagna rest before serving: Once the lasagna is cooked, let it rest for at least 15 minutes before serving. This will allow the flavors to meld together and the lasagna to set properly.
Conclusion:
Lasagna is a classic Italian dish that is enjoyed by people all over the world. It is a versatile dish that can be made with a variety of different ingredients, so there is sure to be a lasagna recipe that everyone will enjoy. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced cook, these tips will help you make a delicious and authentic Italian lasagna. Buon appetito!
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