This traditional lasagna recipe is bursting with flavours and is so easy to make, you'll want to make it over and over. As you prepare the baking dish, sheets of pasta and other ingredients, have a read of this interesting story about how Italian lasagna came to life.
The History of Lasagna
Lasagna originates from the Latin word "lasanum", which means cooking pot. Developed in Italy during the Middle Ages, the dish consists of pasta layered with cheese and sauce.
The origin of the first lasagna recipe is still a subject of debate, although it appears that early versions had more flour than meat. The first known recipe for lasagna appeared in the Libre del Coch book written by Spanish author Martino da Como. This recipe consisted of flat pasta on top of dough, covered with melted cheese, cinnamon, sugar and ginger. At the time, this dish was served as an appetizer.
Today, lasagna is made with many different sauces, including vegetables, traditional meat sauce with tomato, white sauce made with butter and flour, ricotta cheese and Parmesan cheese. The dish is then topped with additional cheeses such as mozzarella or fontina. Lasagna can also be eaten with other vegetables like zucchini, eggplant or bell peppers.
There are also many variations of this dish, including vegan and vegetarian lasagnas. A traditional Italian-style lasagna consists of layers of pasta with meat sauce or béchamel sauce and cheese layered between them; ricotta is typically used for this dish. Other styles include Greek lasagna, which is served without tomato sauce, seafood lasagna and white lasagna made without meat.
Pasta Health Benefits
Whole wheat lasagna noodles contain high amounts of fibre, vitamins B2 and B12. Moderate consumption of healthy lasagna, especially with steamed or roasted vegetables, can help reduce blood pressure, cardiovascular disease and other chronic illnesses. Combined with tomato sauce, which is an excellent source of vitamins A, B, C, K, potassium, folate, as well as high levels of antioxidants, this classic Italian food is a great way to keep your immune system strong. Additionally, it offers the following benefits:
- provides sustained energy because it is rich in carbohydrates and glucose, which are also crucial for the brain and muscles
- perfect for weight loss because it is low in sodium and cholesterol
- great for pregnant women as it contains a lot of folic acid
- provides a balanced diet, especially if combined with lean protein and vegetables
Healthy Quick and Easy lasagna
You can make this healthy lasagna recipe with any cheese, tomato or meat sauce of your choice. Balance between taste and nutrition is the key. However, if you're planning to use beef, go for lean ground beef as it's lower in fat.
For more healthy pasta recipes, check out our recipe section.
Ingredients
- 4 cups of your favourite pasta sauce
- 3 cups ricotta cheese
- 1 cup grated mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons chopped garlic
- 1 box fresh lasagne sheets
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 180 degrees Celsius.
- Grease a 9-inch by 13-inch lasagne dish.
- Combine your ricotta cheese, parsley, and garlic.
- Pour one cup of pasta sauce onto the bottom of the lasagne dish.
- Arrange 1/3 of the lasagne sheets in the pan.
- Spread half of the ricotta cheese mixture over sheets and top with mozzarella cheese.
- Pour over another cup of sauce, arrange over that another layer of lasagne sheets. Pour over the remainder of the sauce and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
- Bake it covered tightly with aluminum foil for about one hour.
- Serve and enjoy.
