How To Make The Perfect Lasagna
How To Make The Perfect Lasagna
It’s no secret that lasagna can cure just about anything that ails you.
Right along with pizza and the classic spaghetti and meatballs, this cheesy loaded pasta dish is in the running for star-status-style comfort food—even more so in the winter months when it's layers of ooey-gooey goodness are almost better than your favorite sweater. If your Nonna didn’t grace your Sunday table with a big ol’ casserole dish of baked pasta, it’s your turn to start the tradition. We collaborated with Elena Davis of @cucinabyelana to create this detailed guide on how to make lasagna step by step.
But first, where does the name “Lasagna” come from?
Before we dive into the process of making lasagna, here is a little Italian tidbit for you. In Italy, lasagna (plural “lasagne”) refers to the flat and expanded pasta sheet. The finished product is typically referred to as, “pasta al forno”, or baked pasta. Traditionally, it is made with Parmigiano-Reggiano Béchamel (white sauce), and ragù (a meat-based tomato sauce). The dish is made by stacking lasagna sheets on top of each other with meats, vegetables, cheeses, and tomato sauce between. Layers and layers of flavor perfection!
• Start with quality pasta! You want a sturdy pasta made from Italian hard wheat to get a nice texture instead of a lower quality pasta that will essentially disappear in the sea of lucious meat, bechamel, and cheese layers.
• Bring your salted water to a roaring boil BEFORE adding the noodles. This will prevent sticking and make sure the individual noodles cook evenly.
• Use the largest and deepest pot you have. Lasagna noodles are thick and long. You want your pasta to “swim” freely and not stick together. See tips below on how to slightly undercook the noodles.
• Use the largest and deepest pot you have. Lasagna noodles are thick and long. You want your pasta to “swim” freely and not stick together. See tips below on how to slightly undercook the noodles.
• Al dente lasagna noodles: follow the directions on the box minus 1 minute. After years of testing this seems to be the correct cooking time for lasagna noodles. They will absorb some of the sauce while cooking and get a bit softer while still holding their shape and keeping the right texture.
• Drain the noodles. Do NOT leave your noodles in the pot of hot water while layering your lasagna. Cook all of the noodles and set aside before you start to assemble.
• Do NOT rinse your noodles. You can go to pasta jail for doing this in Italy! When you rinse pasta you remove the necessary starches that help the noodles bind to the sauce ingredients.
• Do NOT rinse your noodles. You can go to pasta jail for doing this in Italy! When you rinse pasta you remove the necessary starches that help the noodles bind to the sauce ingredients.
• Let the noodles cool before assembling. Do this by laying them on a clean and damp kitchen cloth and covering them with another damp cloth to separate the next layer of noodle sheets.
White Cream Sauce
• Bechamel
• Alfredo
• Spread a thin layer of red pasta sauce in the bottom of a lasagna baking dish.
• Add a layer of cooked or no-boil lasagna noodles. It’s okay if you have to cut the sheets to fit the pan.
• Spread an even layer, about ⅓ of the white sauce or ricotta mixture with the back of a spoon.
• Spread an even layer, about ⅓ of the red sauce.
• Spread an even layer, about ⅓ of the red sauce.
• Spread a layer of the meat or vegetables
• Spread a layer of melting cheese (mozzarella).
• Repeat these layers two more times.
• Repeat these layers two more times.
• Top the lasagna with a final layer of noodles, white sauce/ricotta and red sauce, mozzarella, and Parmigiano Reggiano cheese.
• Top the lasagna with a final layer of noodles, white sauce/ricotta and red sauce, mozzarella, and Parmigiano Reggiano cheese.
Does Lasagna Need To Be Covered With Foil When Baking?
Yes, to prevent it from drying out. We recommend removing the foil for the last 20 minutes of the bake time to brown the top.
How Long Do You Bake Lasagna?
For most recipes, bake the lasagna at 350-375°F for 45-65 minutes depending on the exact recipe.
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Get it brown and bubbly. Don’t forget to remove the foil covering on your lasagna for the last 15-20 minutes of cook time. As you know, a browned top with bubbling cheese is where it’s at!
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Let it rest. It’s tempting not to cut into that lasagna as soon as it comes out of the oven, but you have to wait. Let the lasagna rest uncovered for at least 20-40 minutes to cool down to avoid a soupy mess. It needs time to set and firm up, this happens as it cools.
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Can Lasagna Be Made Ahead Of Time?
Yes, you can make lasagna a day ahead of time. Fully assemble and refrigerate. We recommend that you pull the lasagna out of the refrigerator and bring to room temperature at least one hour ahead of baking to adhere to original bake times. Or add about 10 minutes to the bake time if baking a refrigerated pan of lasagna.
What Do I Do With Leftover Lasagna?
Lasagna leftovers... Oh yes! In fact, lasagna tastes even better the longer it sets. If you assemble and bake the lasagna ahead of time, it keeps in the fridge for about three days. To keep it longer, freeze it and reheat it before serving.
How Do I Freeze Lasagna?
Before lasagna is baked. Freezing the assembled lasagna before it is baked helps maintain the lasagna’s sauce and noodle texture and prevent it from getting too soggy. After assembling the lasagna in an oven safe pan, wrap the top with plastic wrap and aluminum foil. Then, write the date and freeze until ready to use! When you’re ready to use your frozen lasagna, transfer it to the refrigerator and let it defrost overnight. Then, take it out of the fridge and let it sit at room temperature for 30 minutes-1 hour while your oven preheats. Bake and Pronto! Lasagna is ready!
After lasagna is baked. Make sure your lasagna cools before freezing it. You can freeze the large part that is leftover or break it up into individual servings first. Transfer the slices of lasagna into freezer-safe food containers or wrap the slices first in plastic wrap and then in foil, and store them in a freezer storage bag. To reheat the large or individual slices- simply remove the lasagna’s freezer wrappings, cover the top with new foil and bake until heated through. You can also microwave it. That’s it! Lunch or dinner is ready on a busy day.
How Do I Make A Delicious Vegetarian Lasagna?
Have fun with your lasagna and introduce new flavors. Experiment with different combinations of sauces, vegetables and cheeses. Just keep an eye on how much liquid you’re using. Vegetables can create a lot of liquid, so make sure they are cooked first. Try roasting or sautéing your veggies prior to layering. If using frozen vegetables, such as spinach, make sure to strain the liquid. Here are some of our favorite vegetables:
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- Roasted Tomatoes
- Mushrooms
- Onions
- Spinach
- Kale
- Bell Peppers
- Zucchini
- Butternut Squash
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Here is a delicious veggie lasagna recipe.