Question

What is the name of the Italian dish consisting of flat sheets of pasta layered with cheese and sauce?

Answer 1

The Italian dish you’re referring to is Lasagna al Forno. This classic comfort food features silky sheets of fresh lasagna noodles layered with slow-simmered beef Bolognese sauce and a creamy Parmesan béchamel (cheesy white sauce). The layers are then topped with melty mozzarella cheese. Let’s break down the components of this delicious dish:

1. Ragu Alla Bolognese (Beef Bolognese Recipe):

   • The hero of Lasagna al Forno is a slowly-simmered, full-flavored Bolognese sauce made from ground beef.
   • The secret to this sauce lies in letting it simmer slowly with red wine, milk, and San Marzano tomatoes.
   • It requires several hours to prepare but can be made ahead of time and layered into the lasagna straight from the fridge.

2. Parmesan Besciamella (Béchamel):

   • The creamy béchamel sauce with Parmesan cheese adds richness and flavor.
   • It’s a cheesy white sauce that complements the meaty Bolognese layer.

3. Lasagne Pasta:

   • You can use fresh pasta (as pictured), no-boil lasagna sheets, or your favorite boiled lasagna noodles.
   • In Italian, one pasta sheet is called lasagna, while multiple sheets of pasta are referred to as lasagne (with an ‘e’).

4. Cheese!:

   • Fresh mozzarella and extra Parmesan create a gooey, cheesy topping.

Remember, this traditional Italian lasagna recipe skips the ricotta cheese and focuses on the rich flavors of the Bolognese and béchamel. Buon appetito!  123.