Homemade lasagne pasta sheets (lasagna)
Everybody loves a good baked lasagna (lasagne al forno to the Italians). And, here on The Pasta Project there is a growing number of delicious baked lasagna recipes (yes there are different ways to make it!). However, making lasagne al forno with homemade lasagne pasta is pretty unbeatable!
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Baked lasagna around Italy.
Baked lasagna is a classic dish in most Italian regions. However, the recipe varies from region to region. In Northern Italy, they make it with fresh or dried egg pasta. Usually, the other ingredients are a classic Bolognese sauce or meat ragu, Parmigiano Reggiano or grana cheese and bechamel .
In Emilia-Romagna, they often use green lasagne pasta sheets, made with spinach. A great favourite of mine for baked lasagna from Emilia-Romagna is baked pasta roses or swallow’s nests (nidi di rodine) (see link below). In this dish, the lasagne sheets are rolled with ham and cheese and sometimes other ingredients inside them and then baked covered in bechamel. I have made this recipe with homemade lasagne and boy is it good!
In Naples, Neapolitan lasagna, a typical carnival dish, is prepared with Neapolitan ragu, meatballs, cow’s ricotta, provola and pecorino cheese. Interestingly, the lasagne in the south is often dried and made without egg.
In some Italian mountain areas, they substitute the ragu or meat sauce with mushrooms. Whereas, they sometimes use pesto instead of ragu in Liguria, and in Veneto, red radicchio from Treviso.
In Umbria and in Marche, there is a particular version called ‘vincisgrassi’ in which the ragu is enriched with chicken or pork offal. In the Apennines, the ragu is replaced by a filling of porcini, truffles and pecorino and in Sicily, there is also the ‘alla Norma’ version with eggplants. Or, they add boiled eggs to the dish.
Lasagna bianca.
Not all Italian recipes for ‘lasagne al forno’ contain tomatoes. In fact, there are many ‘white’ recipes too. Italians say 'lasagna bianca'. A ‘white’ lasagna I particularly love comes from Puglia. It’s made with mushrooms and burrata (see link below). Believe me when I say, it’s amazingly delicious. Plus, there’s no meat included, perfect for vegetarians too!
Here in Northern Italy, people also call these dishes (red and white) ‘pasticcio’. However, although pasticcio has layers of pasta with various fillings baked in the oven, it isn’t always with lasagne sheets.
Making homemade lasagne pasta is easy!
Fresh lasagne sheets are available to buy throughout Italy. But, the absolute best is homemade lasagne. It’s actually pretty easy to make, with or without a pasta machine. Why not give it a try next time you want to make a baked lasagna? I’m sure once you’ve done it, you’ll want to do it again and again! There really is quite a difference in the taste of homemade pasta and store bought, even if the latter is fresh!
Do you need to precook fresh lasagne?
When making your baked lasagna dish you can either precook the pasta for a couple of minutes in boiling salted water before assembling the dish or use it raw. In the latter case, the sauce needs to be a little more liquidy. I usually don't precook fresh pasta.
If you do try making your own homemade lasagne, I’d love to hear how it turns out. Please, write a comment here on the blog or post a comment on the Pasta Project Facebook page.
Your feedback means a lot to me!
Buon Appetito!
Recipes on The Pasta Project for your homemade lasagne pasta.
(just click on the name of the recipe to go to that page)
- Lasagne al forno with Bolognese from Emilia-Romagna
- Radicchio pasticcio (Italian chicory lasagna) from Veneto
- Baked lasagna alla Norma from Sicily
- Baked pasta roses from Emilia-Romagna
- Lasagna bianca with mushrooms and burrata from Puglia
- Italian lamb lasagna
- Poached salmon and asparagus lasagna
- Lasagna baked in broth from Molise
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New recipes for homemade pasta sheets you will love.
I've just posted (March 27th 2020) a great recipe for homemade pasta sheets that you should check out! Baked fazzoletti from Abruzzo
Also worth trying is this recipe from Liguria for silk handkerchief pasta squares with pesto. Just cut your pasta sheets into squares instead of rectangles! Silk handkerchief pasta with pesto.
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Michel Bonnet says
Hi Jacqueline,
Give us a recipe for homemade fresh Lasagna verdi - please?
I cannot find lasagna verdi in our supermarkets.
I do not have a lasagna machine - so plan to use a pastry roll.
Thanks,
Michel
Laura says
Great post, very informative. I usually make it with bolognese and bechamel, but my favourite is alla Norma. I should make more white lasagna. You inspired me to try some other versions
Corina Blum says
I didn't realise that lasagne varied so much from region to region! I think it must be delicious made with fresh pasta though.
Brian Jones says
I love making pasta at home, we have both ducks and chickens so will use whatever eggs we have most of at the time we make it 🙂
Jere Cassidy says
You are a pasta queen. I love looking and reading your blog posts. I so want to just have freshly made pasta.
Monica says
This might be the only way to make my favorite lasagna even better!! It really is pretty doable and definitely worthwhile for a special occasion! And really for bragging rights alone!! 🙂
Diana says
I have Never made homemade pasta, I have always Been intimidated! You make it look so easy, I will Reconsider!
Valentina says
I think the process of making pasta is so beautiful. I love all the cultural information in the post. All of the variations sound so good!
Pam Greer says
I love the color of that pasta, so rich and yellow! I've always wanted to try making my own lasagna noodles, and you have convinced me that I can!
Beth Neels says
I am so jealous of your pasta making abilities! I have always wanted to make pasta! Maybe you just gave me the inspiration to try! You make it look so easy!
Natalie says
I must admit I admire you. I'm not good in making pasta. I'm better in eating lasagna 😀 You made it looks so easy to make. And maybe I give another try with your recipe. Thanks for sharing!
Eden | Sweet Tea and Thyme says
Gotta get a pasta machine now, I never knew making lasagna sheets was so easy!
Jessica Formicola says
I've always wanted to make homemade pasta, so I'm so glad I found this! It was delicious!
Ilona says
I always thought this is hard to make. If I will follow your recipe I will have the real lasagna sheets.
Susan says
What an easy homemade pasta recipe! Thanks for sharing. And there are SO many delicious pasta recipes on this page!
Natalie says
Looks amazing! I never made homemade pasta before but it looks quite easy!
Veena Azmanov says
Great Idea to try making Pasta at home. This looks simple and easy to make too. Homemade option are always good.
Suzy says
There is nothing better than homemade pasta!
Sandhya Hariharan says
I have never made Pasta at home { fresh }, now I am so tempted looking at your recipe. Looks fab
Dannii says
I have a pasta machine, but I hardly ever use it. I must make the effort to use it more often.