Try Doing This Next Time You Make Lasagna

It’s time to unleash your inner Garfield and upgrade your lasagna with some versatile veggies, alternative cheeses, and surprising spices.

#Lasagna #Cooking #Pasta

Layer with basil pesto | 0:00
The ravioli swap | 0:50
Anchovies in the sauce | 1:36
Integrate mushrooms into the sauce | 2:26
Add prosciutto | 3:16
Incorporate squash | 4:02
Use other pasta varieties | 5:04
Throw in some bacon | 5:41
Add spinach | 6:37
Choose goat cheese | 7:31
Bring out the flavors with cinnamon | 8:25
Infuse lentils | 9:05
Sprinkle in some taco seasoning | 9:57

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It’s time to unleash your inner Garfield and  upgrade your lasagna with some versatile veggies,   alternative cheeses, and surprising spices. Basil is a popular Italian ingredient,  although it’s not typically found inside   lasagna. But this aromatic herb can provide a  whiff of herbal aromas and some zingy flavor.

Classic pesto traditionally combines heaps  of fresh basil pounded with pine nuts,   Parmigiano Reggiano, garlic, and streams of  olive oil until it becomes a thick paste. When   layering pesto into lasagna, you should use  just a tiny amount and spread it across the  

Sauce. Pesto is quite intense, and a little goes  a long way. To add just a hint of herbal aromas,   you can also add the pesto as a finishing touch  on top of the dish. If you can’t be bothered   with making a homemade version, then jarred  pesto is a perfectly acceptable alternative.

Using ravioli instead of plain pasta sheets  might be the most ingenious twist in lasagna   history. The process is simple: just  switch your regular lasagna pasta for   your favorite stuffed ravioli. Be sure to layer  them evenly so that there’s minimal overlapping. With many ravioli varieties, you’ll  have to choose the one that’ll work  

With the other ingredients in the dish. The  safest option is the cheese-stuffed version,   which is typically filled with ricotta.  It’s neutral enough to work with most   lasagna recipes, while still offering  a fun, cheesy surprise. Alternatively,   you could opt for mushroom-stuffed  ravioli for an aromatic umami kick,  

Pumpkin or potato ravioli to increase creaminess,  or meat-stuffed pasta pockets for the carnivores. And there are many other stuffed  pastas besides ravioli to choose from,   just so long as the pieces are thin  and suitable enough for layering. Anchovies may be small, but  they pack a ton of flavor,  

So one jar can go a long way. They  can add more character to pizza,   or they can be neatly stacked on bruschetta.  And since they’re soft and tender, they can   easily turn into a paste that can be blended  into stocks, sauces, soups, or even lasagna. “Anchovies.” “Wha?” “Anchovies!”

One particular utilization of anchovies can be  found in lasagna puttanesca. “Puttanesca” refers   to a sauce that blends garlic, olives, oil,  red pepper flakes, capers, tomatoes, parsley,   and anchovies into a mix that oozes southern  Italian flair. This can be used as the regular  

Red sauce in lasagna and can pair nicely with  milder ricotta. If you don’t have the time to   make puttanesca, you can just choose any  sauce of your liking and add a pinch of   anchovies. Just be careful to adjust the  amount of salt to something appropriate!

Mushrooms are quite versatile in home kitchens.  Maybe you’ve never thought to add them to lasagna,   but they can be easily incorporated to  achieve an incredible depth of flavor.   They’re especially useful for a vegetarian  version, as they can mimic a meaty texture.  

They also pack powerful earthy and savory  nuances that blend into an umami-like richness. You can add mushrooms straight into the meat  sauce and stew until they’re well integrated.   But if you’re going the meat-free route, it’s best  to turn the mushrooms into a rich ragù by sautéing  

Them with onions and spices. You can tweak it  with tomatoes to resemble the classic meat sauce. Mushrooms are also a suitable partner  with a strong-flavored cheese,   which usually goes inside or on top of  lasagna, so feel free to play around  

And create a version that suits your taste.  And there are no restrictions when it comes   to which variety of mushrooms to use. You  could even mix different varieties together! Prosciutto is one of the most prized  items in Italian cuisine. This cured  

Ham is an irreplaceable ingredient that  you’ll usually see stacked on top of pizza   or inside sandwiches. But perhaps the best  way to incorporate prosciutto is to serve   paper-thin slices as antipasti and pair  them with some crusty bread and olives,  

Washed down with a glass of wine. Prosciutto  boasts an incredible medley of savory, sweet,   and nutty flavors that can translate  well into a creamy and hearty lasagna. “Prosciutto” can refer to “prosciutto crudo,”  which is the intensely-flavored cured version,   or “prosciutto cotto,” which is  regular cooked ham. For lasagna,  

You should go with the crudo variety. You  can add prosciutto directly to your lasagna,   but don’t go overboard, as a small amount is all  you need to deliver plenty of savory nuances. Squash is usually limited to soups and pies,   but it has the potential to do so  much more. Zucchini, for example,  

Is a summer squash with soft, edible skin that’s  often fried and grilled. But it can really show   off its versatility when it’s incorporated  into lasagna and other similar casseroles. Squash can easily add more character to  any lasagna recipe. Sweeter varieties   will lend satisfying sweetness and hearty  richness, while the younger ones impart a  

Lighter herbaceous element. For sweet winter  varieties, it’s best to roast the whole squash,   scoop up the creamy mash, season, and  incorporate it as one of the lasagna   layers. Summer squashes that are juicier  and more tender can be fried and used as  

One of the layers, though they’re also great  as a nutritious addition to the meat ragù. “Killer veggies.” “Tasty.” “His squash is beautiful.” “Sexy. It’s sexy squash.” As squash tends to soften when cooked, it can  be an excellent choice to replace the pasta with  

Zucchini. Just slice them thinly and layer them  with other elements. Not only will squash provide   plenty of texture, it will also give a wonderful  boost of flavor and add fruits to your meal. There’s nothing wrong with the pasta  sheets that are traditionally used  

In lasagnas. They’re easy to work with  and are made specifically for lasagna,   so they do the job perfectly. But why not spice  things up with different varieties? Most pastas   are suitable for lasagna or any other casserole  dish. Penne, rigatoni, or fusilli are all terrific  

Options. And even thin pasta like spaghetti  can provide a notably distinctive texture. Always cook the pasta beforehand, but leave  it al dente, as it will have time to soften   when nestled among the sauces. You can  stack pasta to get more height and an  

Extra chewy lasagna. This method can also  be useful if you run out of lasagna sheets. Bacon can instantly make any food more flavorful,   and lasagna is no different. It may not be a  very common ingredient in most lasagna recipes,  

But it’s definitely worth a try. The easiest  way to implement bacon is to fry bits of it   until they’re nice and crispy and then  sprinkle it on top of each layer. This   technique will enhance the flavor and add a  pleasant textural component, with crispy bits  

In each bite. Another way is to dice the bacon  and incorporate it into the ragù or tomato sauce.   This will infuse the sauce with a faint smoky  note, evenly distributed throughout the dish. For the ultimate bacon overload,  wrap the whole lasagna in bacon,  

Just like you would with meatloaf. Assemble  bacon slices on the bottom of the baking dish,   with the tops hanging out on the sides, and then  layer the lasagna as usual. When the lasagna is   fully assembled, throw the hanging bacon slices  over the top. The bacon will crisp up and lend  

Some of its flavor and fatty juices to the  lasagna, making for quite the decadent feast. “Bacon! Bacon! Where’s the bacon? I smell bacon.” Spinach isn’t typically used in the  Italian lasagna-making tradition,   though it’s not unheard of. This veggie  is a familiar partner to pasta and cheese,  

After all, so a spinach lasagna  sounds just about right. The easiest way to do this is to combine spinach  with ricotta. They’re frequent partners that   make for a wonderful blend of tangy and earthy  notes. You can mix the ricotta with some wilted,  

Sautéed, or cooked spinach. If you’re working  with a recipe that doesn’t include ricotta,   chop your spinach and sprinkle it onto each  lasagna layer. In both cases, make sure that   you drain the spinach well. You don’t want  a watery mess inside the lasagna, after all.

Spinach also works well in meat-free lasagnas.  It has enough character to act as a single   ingredient, but it’s also flexible when paired  with other vegetables, like artichokes, zucchini,   or peppers. Spinach lends lasagna a pleasing  taste, plus it’s also a nutritional powerhouse.

“Hey, spinach. You has to eat it to  get health, strength, and vitality.” Cheese is obviously one of the essential  parts of every lasagna. But be careful,   as it should only act as a supporting character  and not the dominating element. The specific  

Cheese selection in most lasagna recipes  usually calls for tried and tested favorites,   like Parmigiano Reggiano and mozzarella. Cheddar  and other types of aged cheese are also common,   as is the light and tangy ricotta. On  the other hand, though, goat cheese   is an unexpected and unconventional  option that can be a real game-changer.

“Yes, that is a goat cheese.” Goat cheese varies in texture and flavor  depending on the style and age. Though there   are subtle differences, you want something  with more character. As lasagna is such a   strongly flavored and potent dish, the tangy and  zesty note of goat cheese should be noticeable  

Enough to cut through all the fat and meaty  richness. Aged goat cheese should be able to   reliably pull that off. If you’re aiming for  a milder flavor, then use fresh goat cheese. Cinnamon might sound like a rather unlikely  candidate to add to lasagna. This warm,  

Sweet spice is typically associated with  cakes and cookies, but it can also deliver   its warmth and depth to savory dishes. Though  it’s often classified as potent and robust,   cinnamon can be wonderfully subtle  when used in the right amount. Cinnamon forms a strong team with meat,  especially in fat-laden stews and ragùs,  

Thus making it an ideal addition  to the classic lasagna meat sauce.   The distinctively warm characteristic of  cinnamon matches the savory notes, juicy meat,   and tartness of the tomato sauce. Like salt,  it helps bring out the best in every element.  

You can even mix in a spoonful of the spice to  the ricotta if it’s on your list of ingredients. Lentils don’t always get the credit that  they deserve. These tiny legumes come in   many colors and can jazz up soups, stews,  casseroles, or salads. They make creamy  

Hummus-like spreads and perfectly thickened  sauces. In addition to their versatility,   lentils are an excellent protein source and  are genuinely budget-friendly. In lasagna,   they can be a great meat alternative that  makes for a wholesome and nutrient-dense dish. If you want to incorporate lentils  into lasagna, the optimal way is to  

Cook them together with the meat sauce. Red  lentils are ideal as they cook quickly and   instantly turn into a soft and creamy base  that blends with the color of the sauce. If you want to make a vegan version,  cook the lentils down with a generous  

Amount of seasoning, tomatoes,  spices, and other vegetables to   build a sauce that delivers a medley of  flavors and textures. For this version,   use brown or green lentils, which have much  more substance and will retain some chew. Taco seasoning is a spice blend that’s intended  to deliver traditional Mexican flavors, naturally  

Enough. The ingredients vary, but chili and  paprika are usually the foundations. Onion powder,   cumin, and salt are some other common elements  that help diversify the flavor with more complex   and nuanced expressions. In general, taco  seasoning is a convenient choice that you  

Can sprinkle on top of tacos and guacamole or  incorporate into chili and hearty stews. Really,   it can work with any recipe that calls  for ground meat, including lasagna. The best way to incorporate it is to blend  the taco seasoning into the meat ragù. It will  

Deliver a delectably warm smokiness and subtle  spiciness that will marry well with the cheese   and the tomatoes. If you really want the flavors  to pop, sprinkle each layer with seasoning and   let it shine through with each bite. If the  recipe includes ricotta, a spoonful of taco  

Seasoning will help to balance the heavy  creaminess and tartness. Another inspiring   idea is to lightly dust the top of the lasagna  before baking to get a crunchy, spiced crust.