How to Make Lasagna

• Also try: Lasagna
  

Introduction

Creative Commons photo by Alpha

• While the original Lasagna recipe may have originated in Italy, its rich flavors and complex textures can now be found in kitchens and restaurants throughout the world. With its layers of cheese, noodles, sauce and filling, Lasagna is a savory and filling dish that can be enjoyed at any occasion. As with many Italian dishes, there are as many different variations and recipes as there are cooks in the world. Some may include meat, while others may be strictly vegetarian. Some may use primarily tomato sauce, while others may include a combination of tomato and Béchamel Sauce . Regardless of the recipe you choose to use, making Lasagna can be a great way to bring the flavors of Italy to your dinner table. But don't take Garfield's word for it. Go ahead and make your own!

What You'll Need

Making Lasagna

• Making Lasagna is not necessarily a quick process, so you should be sure to set out a good chunk of time for preparation and execution of the recipe. Before you start putting the Lasagna together, you must first create the sauces that will be used in the recipe.

Make the Red Sauce

1. Chop your Onion and Garlic clove into small pieces.
2. Using one of your large saucepans, heat up the Olive Oil.
3. Add the vegetables and saute on medium heat for a couple of minutes until they are well cooked.
4. Add the Tomato Sauce, Tomatoes, Basil and any additional Italian seasonings you want.
5. For a meat sauce, add the ground beef to the simmering sauce.
6. Simmer on low heat for 20 - 30 minutes, stirring regularly.

Make the Béchamel Sauce

1. In your other saucepan, melt the Butter on medium heat.
2. Add the Flour and stir well for about 1 minute.
3. Add the Milk and cook until the mixture is steaming.
4. Turn down the heat and simmer for a few minutes until the sauce begins to thicken.
5. Add Salt and Pepper to taste.

Make the Lasagna

Ready to be cooked! (Creative Commons photo by Eliot Phillips)

1. Pre-heat your oven to 375 degrees F.
2. Fill your large Stockpot with water and bring it to a boil. Add a pinch of Salt.
3. Place your Lasagna noodles in the boiling water and cook them until they are soft and malleable (Al dente).
4. Drain the water from the noodles by using your Colander.
5. Spread a little bit of Olive Oil over the bottom of your Baking Pan to prevent the noodles from sticking.
6. Place three of your Lasagna noodles on the bottom of your pan (overlapping) so that the entire surface is covered.
7. Pour a layer of your red sauce onto the noodles and smooth it out evenly.
8. Add a layer of Béchamel Sauce on top of the red sauce.
9. Sprinkle a hand-full of each of the cheeses on top of the sauces.
10. Add your second layer of noodles and repeat steps 7 - 9.
11. Add the final layer of noodles and top it with the remaining sauces and cheese.
12. Cook in the oven for 25 - 30 minutes.
13. Let cool for 10 minutes.
14. Serve and enjoy!

Lasagna Tips & Tricks

•   If you want to make a vegetarian lasagna, simply chop up a bunch of different vegetables and add it to the red sauce instead of the ground beef.
•   Since the red sauce usually takes longer to prepare, make sure you do it first. When the red sauce is half way done, start on the Bechamel.
•   Lasagna can be frozen or refrigerated and reheated when you want to eat it.
•   Never use aluminum pans to cook your Lasagna in. The heat will cause the aluminum to make your Lasagna taste bad.
•   If you don't let the Lasagna cool off after cooking, you will have a very hard time cutting it into pieces.

Lasagna Variations

• Here are just a few of the many Lasagna variations that can be made:
  • Epicurious: Wild Mushroom Lasagne
  • Food & Wine: Broken Lasagna with Walnut Pesto
  • Stay Young at Heart: Zucchini Lasagna
  • Wing's (Mostly) Food Blog: Turkey Lasagna
  • Cooking with Amy: Eggplant Lasagna

Resources for How to Make Lasagna

• eHow: How to Make Lasagna | Lasagna Sauce
• Simply Cooking: How to Make Lasagna
• How Stuff Works: How to Make Lasagna
• About.com: Lasagne alla Bolognese - An Illustrated Recipe  
• Epicurious: White Sauce or Bechamel Sauce
• VideoJug: How to Make Lasagna

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