The best lasagna recipe

Lasagna is a sure hit in most homes. It is the essence of "comfort food". It is a real cozy food, and there is always a special atmosphere, not to mention the wonderful smell, when you put a lasagna in the oven. 

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Easy and quick lasagna

Lasagna is a dish that can be made quickly and easily by turning a few knobs, without compromising the taste too much:

• Chop the onion, garlic, carrots and celery in a food processor or mini chopper.
• Just boil your lasagna sauce for 30 minutes before assembling the lasagna.
• Use fresh rather than dried lasagna sheets to shorten the cooking time in the oven.
• You can also buy a ready-made bechamel sauce. 

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Bechamel or mornay sauce

Although you can of course easily buy a ready-made white sauce, it is highly recommended that you make it from scratch. Both because it simply tastes best, but also because it is not as difficult as many people think. It takes a maximum of(!) 5 minutes, and requires only a few ingredients that you probably have in stock: milk, butter, flour, nutmeg, salt and pepper. The difference between a bechamel and mornay sauce is whether cheese is added. Both sauces are a so-called "white sauce" that is made with milk. The milk is baked and seasoned to give a creamy milk sauce. A classic bechamel (which is most often used for lasagna) is made without cheese, while in a mornay sauce, cheese, such as parmesan or mozzarella, is added and melted into the sauce. Whether you want to make a bechamel or mornay sauce is entirely up to you. Both taste really delicious.  

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Frequently asked questions about lasagna recipes

Below are the most frequently asked questions, as well as some tips, tricks and variations:

How do you make lasagna?

Lasagna consists of a meat sauce, a white sauce (bechamel or mornay), pasta lasagna sheets and cheese. The different elements of the dish are assembled in layers in a dish that is baked in the oven to make a delicious lasagna. There is a lot of disagreement about the order in which the elements are placed in the dish. Some start with lasagna sheets at the bottom - others béchamel or meat sauce. In the recipe, the latter is done, and the order is: Meat, sheets, béchamel, until I reach the top of the dish. Here I cover the surface with béchamel sauce and cheese, which becomes golden and melted when the dish goes into the oven.

How do you make lasagna with a crispy top?

To make a lasagna with a crispy top, omit the béchamel sauce on top. Instead, top with small cubes of butter, possibly a little cheese and sprinkle breadcrumbs over the surface. This will give a golden and crispy surface that many people like.

How long should lasagna be in the oven?

How long the dish needs to be in the oven depends on whether you are using fresh or dried lasagna sheets. Typically, the lasagna needs 30 minutes for fresh lasagna sheets and around 45 minutes for dried sheets. However, keep an eye on the oven and insert a fork if you are in doubt whether the sheets are tender. If the surface of the lasagna gets too dark, you can always cover it with a piece of foil towards the end of the baking time.

How long can lasagna keep?

Lasagna can last for 3-4 days in the refrigerator or several months in the freezer. Let your lasagna thaw, then reheat in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit until warmed through. Once you have reheated your lasagna, I recommend eating it the same day.

How do you freeze lasagna?

It's a good idea to make a big batch of lasagna and freeze the leftovers. They're easy to reheat and taste even better that way. Let your lasagna cool down so it sets well. Then you can cut it into serving sizes that suit the number of people in your household and put them in freezer boxes.