Homemade Lasagna Recipe: 4 Tips for Making Lasagna
Written by MasterClass
Last updated: Sep 7, 2024 • 4 min read
Learn how to make homemade lasagna with this easy take on the classic Italian comfort food.
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What Is Lasagna?
Lasagna is a traditional Italian main dish consisting of alternating layers of long, flat pasta noodles, tomato or cream sauce, and cheese (typically, mozzarella, parmesan, or ricotta, or a combination of all three). Lasagna may also include layers of sautéed vegetables or ground meat, like beef or lamb. The pasta is boiled before assembly, and then the entire dish is cooked further in the oven.
Lasagna is one of the oldest pasta dishes in Italy, originating in Naples in the Middle Ages.
What Type of Noodles Are Used to Make Lasagna?
Lasagna is made with lasagna noodles, an especially wide noodle like a flat ribbon with ruffled sides. The standard lasagna noodle is made with flour and egg. In Italy, the ingredients used vary depending on the region: Semolina, wheat flour, and durum wheat are all standard options. Pasta dough may also be flavored or colored with additional ingredients, like spinach or sun-dried tomatoes.
4 Tips for Making Lasagna
Lasagna is all about harmony between the layers, and texture is just as important as flavor. Finding the right sauce consistency or cheese mixture is a matter of preference. If it’s your first time making lasagna, here are some tips to consider:
- 1. Build flavor into the sauce. The star of lasagna might be the melty, cheesy layers, but the engine is in the sauce. Traditional lasagna usually features a ragù, a tomato-based meat sauce with lean ground beef, ground pork, or sweet Italian sausage, but sauces vary regionally. Try incorporating a creamy white béchamel sauce or a bright, garlicky green pesto with fresh basil and pine nuts.
- 2. Make it vegetarian. Lasagna does not have to include meat to be hearty and filling. Instead, add chopped, sautéed spinach or kale to the cheese mixture for extra flavor and dimension, and pack it with seasonal vegetables like eggplant or squash.
- 3. Use gluten-free noodles. You can find gluten-free lasagna noodles for sale online or at most grocery stores, which you can use like standard lasagna noodles.
- 4. Assemble in advance. If you’re making a few pans of lasagna for an event or celebration, you can assemble the dish beforehand and refrigerate it for up to two days before baking.
How to Layer Lasagna
To layer lasagna, start with a bottom coat of tomato sauce, then follow it with a single layer of noodles, the soft cheese mixture, and any sautéed veggies or meat. Next, add a layer of sauce, and repeat layering until you reach the top of the baking dish, leaving a few inches. Finally, top the finished lasagna with cheese.
Classic Homemade Lasagna Recipe
makes
prep time
20 mintotal time
1 hrcook time
40 minIngredients
- 1
Preheat the oven to 385°F.
- 2
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Boil the lasagna noodles until they’re al dente, then drain the noodles and carefully lay them on a sheet of paper towels; pat dry.
- 3
To make the sauce, heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add in the onion, and sauté until they begin to soften, about 5 minutes. Add in the garlic, red pepper flakes, fennel, and oregano, and continue to cook until aromatic, another minute or two.
- 4
Add in the tomato paste, and stir to incorporate. Cook until the sauce begins to caramelize and darken, 2 minutes.
- 5
Add in the diced tomatoes, and season with salt and pepper. Stir to combine, and lower the heat to medium-low. Simmer until the sauce slightly thickens, about 5 minutes. Season to taste, and set it aside.
- 6
Halve the zucchini lengthwise, then slice lengthwise again to quarter. Slice crosswise into bite-sized pieces.
- 7
Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
- 8
Add in the zucchini and mushrooms and season with salt and pepper. Sauté until softened, 5 minutes.
- 9
In a large bowl, combine the egg, parmesan, and ricotta, whisking with a fork to incorporate. Season with salt and pepper.
- 10
To assemble, spoon a layer of sauce into a glass or ceramic baking dish. Follow with a layer of noodles, then the ricotta mixture, and sautéed vegetables. Repeat the layers, ending with a layer of noodles. Top with any remaining sauce and mozzarella.
- 11
Cover with aluminum foil, and bake for 20 minutes. Remove the foil, and bake for an additional 15–20, until the edges of the noodles are crisp and crunchy and the top layer of mozzarella cheese is bubbly and golden brown.
- 12
Remove the pan from the oven and let it stand for 10 minutes before garnishing with fresh herbs and cutting into squares. Serve with fresh garlic bread.
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