Lasagna is a dish that’s tasty, yet easy to make. Popular all around the world, this Italian delicacy is renowned because of these features. Furthermore, the dish is easy to customize, making it a true comfort food to many.
A classic lasagna is made by layering noodles, sauce, and meat. It typically has three layers, with a cheese layer topping.
Today, we’d like to explore the history of the lasagna and the different ways of making it. We’ll also be looking at its nutritional value and possible health benefits. If you’d like to learn more about this tasty dish, stick around!
If you’re only here because you’d like a plate of delicious lasagna, head to the bottom of this page.
When you take history into account, yes, lasagna is the oldest pasta in the world.
However, it’s important to note that we’re not exactly talking about the dish we know and love today. Instead, it’s more about the pasta sheets themselves and how they were prepared and served.
The lasagna we have today originated in Italy in the 14th century. More specifically, it was invented in Naples, with the first mentions being in a British cookbook from the time. However, Italy isn’t our stop. In fact, we need to travel a bit further in the past.
It may be unexpected to some, but the Ancient Romans didn’t invent the first pasta. It was actually the Ancient Greeks that did! They used something called “laganon”, which was a sort of pastry dough, similar to lasagna noodles today.
The dish they made with laganon consisted of layers of noodles and layers of sauce, but no meat or cheese. The entire thing was baked in a baking dish called “lasanum”.
Knowing this, we can conclude that the lasagna was inspired by the way an ancient meal was made. Its name, however, came from the baking dish it was prepped in.
A traditional lasagna is made by layering noodles, meat, sauce, and cheese.
To be considered a lasagna, the dish has to have at least three layers, although more are preferred.
Chefs make lasagna by starting out with a bit of sauce. Then comes a layer of noodles. On top of the noodles, a layer of ground beef is added. The beef often features a meat sauce.
These steps are repeated until the homemade lasagna reaches the desired heights. To finish off, a layer of cheese is placed on top. The cheese can be parmesan, cottage cheese, mozzarella, or ricotta cheese. Once assembled, the dish is covered with aluminum foil and baked for around 30 to 45 minutes.
It’s important to add that things like italian seasoning, garlic, crushed tomatoes, and more can be added to the mix. These extra items add more flavor to the lasagna recipe, creating the iconic dish we’re all obsessed with!
A classic lasagna is great when paired with Italian sausage, garlic bread, and other delicious Italian sides. By pairing your lasagna with different dishes, you can discover a variety of novel flavors you may love!
Since lasagna is primarily made of noodles, the dish is pretty high in carbs.
A serving of classic lasagna can have anywhere between 500 and 900 calories. Out of them, 25% go to carbs, 23% to protein, and 52% to fat.
The calorie count as well as the overall macronutrient stats will differ with the ingredients included. Out of all the cheese options for lasagna, parmesan cheese has the least amount of calories, closely followed by mozzarella cheese.
All in all, we’d like to highlight that a lasagna is an excellent meal option for anyone. If you ever get the craving, order one and enjoy it without worry!
If you’re not up for following an easy homemade lasagna recipe, we have some restaurant recommendations for you! We are partnered with a plethora of amazing restaurants across the US that will deliver amazing lasagna to you!
Check out our short list below and if you don’t find your city, search our website. You can browse specific dishes and specific places at once, making it easy to find your next favorite eatery!
For everyone in New Jersey, we’d like to highlight Little Sicily Pizza.
If you’re in Chicago, you have to give Villa Palermo a try!