The Ingredient That Will Change Your Lasagna Forever - Tasting Table (2024)

The Ingredient That Will Change Your Lasagna Forever - Tasting Table (2)

The Ingredient That Will Change Your Lasagna Forever - Tasting Table (3)

The Ingredient That Will Change Your Lasagna Forever

The Ingredient That Will Change Your Lasagna Forever - Tasting Table (4)

Ryzhkov Photography/Shutterstock

ByKalea Martin/

When it comes to cooking Italian food, misconceptions run the gamut. For example, authentic carbonara is never made with cream, and despite the fact that it exists in many Italian-American restaurants, you'd never find Alfredo sauce in Italy. At least that's what Food Network says. As for lasagna, you may assume that aside from the pasta, ricotta is the main ingredient, but the truth is that the inclusion is yet another Americanization of an Italian dish.

According to The Washington Post, what Americans know as lasagna is what Italians refer to as "lasagne imbottite," or stuffed lasagna. Traditional lasagna from both northern and southern Italy instead is thin and delicate rather than thick and hearty. That's in part due to the fact that the traditional kind is made with béchamel sauce rather than ricotta. Italian-born restaurateur Salvatore Esposito explained to The Post that lasagna was adapted to better suit American taste buds, ultimately simplifying the recipe. Using ricotta, or even cottage cheese, puréed in the food processor was a lot more "American" than carefully laboring over a béchamel sauce. But if you want your lasagna to taste better (and more authentic), making a béchamel is worth the effort.

How to add béchamel sauce to your lasagna

The Ingredient That Will Change Your Lasagna Forever - Tasting Table (5)

AS Food studio/Shutterstock

Though often associated with French cuisine, The Los Angeles Times reports béchamel sauce originated in the Tuscan region of Italy during the Renaissance period. After, it was introduced to France by the chefs of Catherine de Medici. Whether you use it in French or Italian cooking, however, the components and cooking process remain the same.

According to Giallo Zafferano, béchamel consists of butter, flour, and milk, as well as a pinch of nutmeg and salt. To make the sauce, you'll start by gently heating milk in a saucepan. In another saucepan, melt butter and double the amount of flour, mixing until the two are combined. The butter and flour should be cooked until they turn golden-brown and form a roux. At this point, you'll gradually incorporate the heated milk, followed by salt and nutmeg. Whisk the ingredients until they come together as a creamy sauce. When you're ready to assemble your lasagna, spread a thin layer of the béchamel sauce over the sheet of pasta topped off with tomato sauce and grated cheese. Repeat the process as needed, then transfer it to the oven. The result is a lasagna so tasty you won't even miss the ricotta.

Recommended

See Also
Lasagna Soup
The Ingredient That Will Change Your Lasagna Forever - Tasting Table (2024)

FAQs

The Ingredient That Will Change Your Lasagna Forever - Tasting Table? ›

When you're ready to assemble your lasagna, spread a thin layer of the béchamel sauce over the sheet of pasta topped off with tomato sauce and grated cheese. Repeat the process as needed, then transfer it to the oven. The result is a lasagna so tasty you won't even miss the ricotta.

What can I add to my lasagna to make it taste better? ›

Sugar: Two tablespoons of white sugar add subtle sweetness and enhance the flavor of the sauce. Spices and seasonings: This lasagna recipe is flavored with fresh parsley, dried basil leaves, salt, Italian seasoning, fennel seeds, and black pepper. Lasagna noodles: Use store-bought or homemade lasagna noodles.

How to add more flavour to lasagne? ›

Chopped peppers and diced courgettes, cooked down slowly into a rich, tomatoey meat sauce, will give this robust dish an even more Italian flavour. Why not throw in some oregano or dried Italian seasoning at the same time for an intense herby flavour?

How do you spice up bland lasagna? ›

11 Ways To Add More Flavor To Your Homemade Lasagna
  1. Diversify your sausage. Artisteer/Getty Images. ...
  2. Sswap out that sausage for seafood. ...
  3. Reconsider the veggies you're using. ...
  4. Don't use the same exact cheese. ...
  5. Try ricotta cheese. ...
  6. Use no-boil noodles. ...
  7. Test out white lasagna. ...
  8. Consider cinnamon your secret ingredient.
Feb 26, 2023

Why is my lasagne tasteless? ›

There needs to be a balance of salt, sweet and acid. Think good to great tomatoes, fresh lemon juice, lemon zest, herbs like thyme, oregano and basil will increase taste experience, and remember the ground pepper. Season the ricotta with salt, pepper, lemon zest, fresh basil, some lemon juice to balance the salt.

Why do you put milk in lasagna? ›

The secret ingredient? Milk. It tenderises the meat, to leave you with the most tender ragù. Use a deep dish and find out how to layer a lasagne.

How can I make my pasta more flavorful? ›

Olive oil or butter and herbs. Adding a fat to the pasta makes it taste better if you're poor and need something. I also add oregano and/or basil. Butter, eggs, and cheese.

What not to do when making lasagna? ›

In the spirit of learning and lasagna, here are the top mistakes everyone makes with lasagna.
  1. Overcooking the noodles. ...
  2. Boiling noodles without oil and salt. ...
  3. Letting your lasagna get too soupy. ...
  4. Using the wrong protein. ...
  5. Overloading the layers. ...
  6. Substituting cottage cheese for ricotta. ...
  7. Using preshredded cheese.
Aug 30, 2022

Why is my lasagna bland? ›

Use vegetables like carrots, onions, and celery for flavor plus lots of garlic and herbs. If making a meat sauce, brown and season the ground meat before adding the tomatoes. Incorporate tomato paste for thickness, and make sure to reduce the sauce as a thicker tomato sauce works better for lasagna.

How to stop lasagne from going sloppy? ›

How can I keep lasagna from being a mushy mess? The best way is to keep your ingredients dry. Cook your pasta sauce long enough to boil out most of the moisture so the sauce is thick.

How many layers should a lasagna have? ›

Let me break it to you: If you want to make a lasagna, three layers just won't cut it! For the perfect lasagna, you need at least 4-5 layers to really enjoy all those mouth-watering flavors. And, here's a pro-tip: make sure to season each layer generously, but not too much. The average lasagna has 8 layers!

How to make lasagna stand up? ›

How do I keep my lasagna from falling apart?
  1. Only par-boil the noodles so they can absorb some of the excess water while baking.
  2. Use less sauce.
  3. Thicken the sauce by reducing it first or adding tomato paste.
  4. Let the lasagna rest for at least 30 min.
Feb 6, 2013

How to make lasagna more flavorful? ›

Chopped fresh rosemary, thyme, or sage would all be delicious in addition to the basil in this homemade lasagna. Add more cheese: If you like an extra cheesy topping, feel free to double the amount of mozzarella on top. Also, feel free to add in any other cheeses that you love too.

Why add tomato paste to lasagna? ›

Its mild flavor works really well with the mozzarella. Tomato Sauce & Paste: An important component in lasagna. Choosing your favorite tomato sauce will guarantee that you'll love this recipe. A good tomato paste helps to thicken but also adds a sweet and savory umami flavor.

Why does my lasagne taste bland? ›

The secret to getting flavour into lasagne is in the meat sauce. I mix beef and lamb mince and make tomato sauce by liquidising tinned tomatoes (cherry are best) .. adding them to finely chopped fried onions, salt, pepper and herbs. Don't skimp on the seasoning.

How do you make store bought lasagna taste like homemade? ›

At that point you can add spices, add additional meat to the filling (e. g. browned ground beef or pork) grate some fresh mozzarella over the top, and put it back into the oven, uncovered, to finish it off. Put some olives, onions, and chopped tomatoes on top under another layer of cheese.

Do you add egg to ricotta for lasagna? ›

Add egg and parsley: a basic ricotta mixture calls for 16 ounces of whole milk ricotta, one egg, and a couple tablespoons of parsley. For extra creamy ricotta, add in an extra egg, a handful of grated parmesan, and a quarter cup of shredded mozzarella.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Arline Emard IV

Last Updated:

Views: 5926

Rating: 4.1 / 5 (72 voted)

Reviews: 87% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Arline Emard IV

Birthday: 1996-07-10

Address: 8912 Hintz Shore, West Louie, AZ 69363-0747

Phone: +13454700762376

Job: Administration Technician

Hobby: Paintball, Horseback riding, Cycling, Running, Macrame, Playing musical instruments, Soapmaking

Introduction: My name is Arline Emard IV, I am a cheerful, gorgeous, colorful, joyous, excited, super, inquisitive person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.