Lasagna is a great food. Ideal for holidays, great for babies, an indulgent Sunday dinner and even a “welcome to the neighborhood” gift. However, where this seemingly simple casserole gets its greatness is in the execution. The good news is, there are a few tips that can help ensure you make the perfect lasagna every time.
Choose the Right Recipe
If you have never made lasagna before, or even if you have and there is room for improvement, the first thing you need to do is find and use the right recipe. This may require a bit of research. Make sure you also read the reviews of what other people say about the recipe. This will provide quite a bit of insight regarding how the recipe will turn out.
Buy the Best Ingredients
In most cases, all-beef isn’t the best option. While most use ground beef in spaghetti sauce, in lasagna, sausage or some type of pork is best. A beef-pork combo is especially flavorful.
Also, if possible use whole milk ricotta and mozzarella, with fresh being the best option. While part-skim milk is fine, the flavor will be blander. Keep in mind, lasagna isn’t exactly a “diet dish,” so going full fat with the milk and cheese products is going to provide the best flavor.
Take Your Time During Assembly
You need to purchase the right lasagna pan if you don’t have it yet. This means you need one that is at least three inches deep so you won’t have the top of your lasagna bubbling over the side. Also, put some sauce in the pain first so that the first pasta layer doesn’t stick.
As you begin layering, follow this order: sauce, noodles, cheese mixture, sauce. Keep following this pattern until you reach the top. Take your time with assembly and make sure the top is fully covered by cheese so the noodles don’t get brittle.
Don’t Overstuff/Stack
As mentioned before, if you pan is too shallow, or you stack the lasagna layers too high, it may result in the mixture bubbling over the side and into your oven. You can avoid this by stopping just below the top of the pan.
Avoid Overcooking
Make sure to cover your lasagna with foil before baking it. Set your oven temperature to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and cook for an hour. When the hour is up, remove the foil and bake for another 15 minutes so the cheese becomes golden brown. Allow the lasagna to sit for about 10 minutes before you cut it to keep the layers from sliding apart.
Using the tips here will help you create an amazing lasagna that everyone will be excited to dive into. Not ready to tackle lasagna just yet? Let L’Amore do the hard work. Stop in today for a little taste of Italy.
