How to Layer Lasagna
Serving a delicious and juicy lasagna is definitely a delightful treat everyone will enjoy. Perfecting one, though,takes practice and the right layering method. If you’re interested to have this for dinner, here are a few basic tips you need to know on layering a lasagna.
What You’ll Need:
Lasagna noodles
Ground beef
Butter
Tomato sauce
Garlic
Spices and herbs (basil, oregano, pepper and salt)
Grated mozzarella cheese
Olive oil (For other uses of olive oil, read 13 practical uses for olive oil)
Water
Preparing The Filling
There are three items needed to layer a lasagna: the sauce, the cheese and the noodles. Most lasagna dishes have meat fillings, but there are many vegetarian recipes today that also make use of vegetables, such as broccoli or spinach lasagna. The sauce can either be tomato or cheese, as long as it’s thick and flavorful.
lasagna layersHere’s a simple procedure on making a tomato meat sauce.
In a large pan, sautee a few garlic cloves in olive oil. Cook until browned, but not burnt. Add the ground meat and cook until it turns brown. Remove excessive fat and oil.
Add the spices and the herbs. Basil or oregano are great choices.
Stir in the tomato sauce. Lower the heat, then cover and let simmer for a few minutes. Taste and adjust the flavors as you deem necessary.
Cooking The Noodles
You can cook the noodles before or after you’re done with the meat sauce. While cooking, stir the noodles occasionally, ensuring they don’t stick together. Stop when the noodles are al dente. Don’t overcook them, since they will have an additional cooking time in the oven. If overcooked, you’ll end up with a mushy lasagna that crumbles easily. Drain the noodles without rinsing, then prepare clean cloth kitchen towels on a flat surface. Spread the noodles on the towels, so they’ll dry.
Layering The Lasagna
Now that you’ve got your ingredients, you’re ready to start layering.
Get a baking dish (the standard size is 12 x 8 inches) and grease it. Rub butter all over its bottom and sides.
Get three lasagna noodles, then lay them down on the bottom of your baking dish, in one layer. If they slightly overlap, it’s all right.
Scoop some of the meat sauce then spread it evenly all over the first layer. Be very generous with the filling, or your lasagna will appear flat.
Cover the first meat sauce layer with a layer of grated mozzarella cheese. You can also use parmesan, if mozzarella is not available.
Add another layer of noodles on top of the cheese. Afterwards, cover it again with a layer of meat sauce. Sprinkle grated cheese again
Add a third layer of lasagna noodles, meat sauce and cheese. This is your last layer, so be generous with the meat sauce and cheese.
If your dish is deep enough, you can add an additional layer. Just make sure it doesn’t spill over.
Baking Time
You can now proceed to baking your lasagna. Cover it with aluminum foil and bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. After 10 minutes have passed, remove the foil, so the cheese will melt and brown as well. When done, let stand for 15 minutes before serving.
The secret to a beautiful and delectable lasagna is how you layer it. Remember these simple tips when you’re cooking this scrumptious dish and your masterpiece will surely come out great! After learning the proper procedure on layering a lasagna, time for you to know how to make finger pizzas.