The Ultimate Homemade Lasagna
Lasagna always makes me happy. I mean, if you think about it, it has it all: warm and cozy, easy and tasty. A homemade lasagna is the perfect dish to share with your family on a Sunday lunch, or to serve during the holidays.
Italian Name: Lasagne alla bolognese [laˈzaɲɲe al.la boloɲˈɲeːze]
Did you know that lasagna refers to the shape of the pasta and not to the way it is cooked? However, the most common way to cook this kind of pasta is to layer it with a delicious sauce and then bake it. The most iconic lasagna is the one prepared with bolognese sauce, and that’s why it is called bolognese lasagna. Naples has its own version, and you can actually layer the pasta with any sort of sauce or ingredient: small meatballs, eggs, tomato sauce, mozzarella, veggies… you can really let your imagination run wild!
Today we will learn how to prepare a delicious bolognese homemade lasagna, so keep on reading!
Why It’s Worth a Spot on Your Table
Should I even tell you why this homemade lasagna is worth a spot on your table? First of all, it is festive, tasty and super mouthwatering. Plus, it’s perfect for entertaining—prepare it ahead of time and enjoy the company of your guests while it bakes. Finally, it is an iconic Italian recipe that never goes unnoticed.
With just a couple of tips I will make a lasagna master out of you!
Ingredients and Tips
Ingredients for 4 servings
- 9 oz fresh lasagna sheets (250 gr)
- 2 cups béchamel sauce (500 ml)
- 3 cups bolognese sauce (700 gr)
- 1 cup grated parmesan cheese (100 gr)
Cooking time: 45 minutes + 4 hours for the bolognese sauce
Bolognese sauce
You can find the recipe of the authentic bolognese sauce here! This is the one I will be using. Just be careful: pasta will absorb the sauce’s moisture cooking, so your bolognese sauce shouldn’t be excessively thick, make sure of that over the last hour of cooking.
Lasagna
As mentioned, it is the shape of pasta, cut in rectangles to fit the cooking tray you are going to use. As far as the type of pasta you can use, you have three options. Feel free to choose your favourite. Your lasagna will be great either way!
1 – Pasta with egg made from scratch. If you want to try it out, you can find the recipe here. Just remember that you will need to cook for a couple of minutes in salted water before assembling your lasagna.
2 – Fresh pasta sheets. You can usually find it in the refrigerated aisle of the supermarket. They usually don’t need pre-cooking, just assemble your lasagna and let them cook in the oven. On the packaging you are going to find the cooking time, which is usually around 20 minutes.
3 – Dry pasta lasagna. Read the instructions on the packaging, as some dry pasta needs pre-cooking. In case you find dry lasagna that does not require pre-cooking, make sure that your sauces are not too thick, otherwise the pasta will absorb all the moisture.
Béchamel sauce
You can find the recipe of the classic béchamel sauce following this link. It is super easy and quick to prepare!
Tips
- You will need your bolognese sauce and your béchamel to be a little bit liquid for this recipe, because the pasta will absorb their moisture cooking. If your béchamel is too thick, add a little bit of milk and mix well.
- You can use pasta madre from scratch, or you can buy fresh pasta or dry pasta from a store, the result will be delicious either way. Pasta made from scratch will need a couple of minutes of pre-cooking in salted water, as might some brands of dry pasta- read the package instructions carefully.
- You can prepare the béchamel yourself or use a ready-made one.
- Layer like a pro: always start with sauce at the bottom of your dish to prevent the pasta from sticking or burning.
Step by Step Recipe
- Have all of your ingredients ready to be used around the baking tray you will be using and then start assembling your lasagna. Make sure to pre-cook the pasta in case it is needed. Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C)
- Remember to always begin with a layer of bolognese sauce and béchamel at the bottom of the tray, then add the pasta.
- Add enough bolognese sauce and béchamel, covering all the pasta and a sprinkle of parmesan cheese and then the second layer of pasta.
- Repeat the process for at least 4 or 5 layers of pasta. For the final layer, make sure that all the corners of the pasta are covered by the sauces and add a generous amount of parmesan cheese, that will help create a golden crust.
- Bake at 400°F (200°C) for 20–25 minutes or until the top is bubbly and golden. Follow the pasta packaging instructions for precise baking time if using store-bought sheets.
- Let your homemade lasagna rest for 5–10 minutes before slicing and serving.
Are you looking for other risotto or pasta recipes? I got you!
Recipe Card
Homemade Lasagna
Equipment
- Oven
- baking tray (about 8×11 inches or 20×30 cm)
Ingredients
- 9 oz fresh lasagna sheets 250 gr
- 2 cups béchamel sauce 500 ml
- 3 cups bolognese sauce 700 gr
- 1 cup grated parmesan cheese 100 gr
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: set to 400°F (200°C).
- For store bought pasta check package instructions—some require boiling, others will cook directly in the oven. For pasta made for scratch a pre-cooking of a couple of minutes will suffice.
- Spread a thin layer of bolognese and béchamel sauces on the bottom of a baking dish.
- Add a layer of lasagna sheets.
- Top with bolognese, béchamel, and Parmesan cheese.
- Repeat layers, ending with sauces and a generous Parmesan sprinkle.
- Bake for 20–25 minutes, or until the top is bubbly and golden.
- Let cool for 5–10 minutes before slicing and serving.
May I tempt you? Here you can find other Italian classics!
FAQs
Can I make it gluten free?
Sure! Swap out regular lasagna sheets for a gluten-free variety, and ensure your béchamel is made with gluten-free ingredients too.
How can I store it?
You can store your homemade lasagna in the fridge for 3 days, or you can freeze it for up to 1 month. Perfect for meal prep, right?
Did I forget something? Don’t be shy and ask in the comments!
