Lasagna The Best Italian Recipe

Lasagna holds a special place as a beloved and iconic dish in Italian cuisine. It is celebrated for its rich flavors and distinctive layered structure, which combines pasta, meat sauce, béchamel, and cheese. Its origins are ancient, dating back to Roman times, though the dish has evolved significantly over the centuries.

“lasagna” comes from the Greek “lasanon,” which refers to a cooking tripod. The Romans adapted this term for a dish called “laudanum,” which involved layering pasta similar to today’s lasagna. However, it lacked tomato, an ingredient brought to Europe only after the discovery of the Americas.

The modern version of lasagna emerged primarily in Emilia-Romagna, where fresh egg pasta sheets layered with Bolognese ragù, béchamel, and Parmesan cheese. However, variations exist across Italy: in Naples, for example, ricotta and meatballs are added, while other regions feature versions with vegetables, fish, or mushrooms.

Classic lasagna ingredients include fresh egg pasta sheets, meat ragù (made with ground meat, tomatoes, and vegetables), béchamel (a sauce of butter, flour, and milk), and cheese, typically Parmesan or mozzarella. Some modern recipes incorporate layers of grilled vegetables, spinach, or other ingredients for added flavor and texture.

Béchamel is a critical component of traditional Bolognese lasagna, while tomato sauce, now fundamental in ragù, was a later addition that transformed the dish. Initially viewed with suspicion and used as ornamental plants, Tomatoes became integral to Italian cuisine in the 16th century, reshaping many traditional dishes, including lasagna.

Lasagna’s evolution, from its medieval roots with pasta, meat, spices, and cheese but no tomatoes to its modern form with Bolognese ragù and béchamel, reflects the dynamic nature of Italian cuisine, which embraces new flavors while staying true to tradition.

Lasagna’s popularity is such that it has its celebration, “National Lasagna Day,” on July 29 in the United States. It remains one of the most searched dishes online worldwide, solidifying its status as a symbol of Italian cuisine.

Best Italian meat lasagna recipe. Easy, fast, and delicious.

Ingredients for 6-7 persons:

• 1 or 2 packs of lasagna noodles

• 500g Ricotta

• 400g fresh sausage

• Six eggs

• 300g mozzarella

• Grounded black pepper 

• Salt at your test

• Freshly grated Parmesan

• 2lt.Tomato sauce

Directions:

• In a large pot, cook about 2 liters of tomato sauce till the oil comes up. Here is the link to how to prepare the delicious tomato sauce 

• Cook the fresh sausage (without the skin, it will look like minced meat) until the water comes out.

• Combine ricotta, salt, grounded black pepper, Parmesan, and eggs in a large mixing bowl.

• In a large casserole dish, evenly spread a bit of the tomato sauce across the bottom of the plate, then top with lasagna noodles,

•  Add a layer of tomato sauce, a layer of ricotta mixture, the cooked fresh sausage, sliced mozzarella, Parmesan, and a layer of tomato sauce.

• Then, you put another layer of lasagna noodles and repeat the same layers.

• Cover with lasagna noodles, a layer of tomato sauce, Parmesan, and a fresh basil leaf.

• Cover with a wet sheet of baking paper and bake for 60 min to 180° as frequently moist the paper.

Buon appetito!