White lasagna
When we say ‘lasagna,’ you probably start thinking immediately about enjoying a leisurely Sunday lunch amongst friends or family – atleast that’s what we Italians associate with such a delicious comfort food dish! In Italy, lasagna is a home-made dish that accompanies family reunions around the table – a symbol of Italian cuisine made of simplicity, taste and tradition.
And, speaking of the latter: if it is true that lasagna par excellence is made with a Bolognese sauce with meat and tomato, it must also be true that the versatility of the recipe also makes it possible to venture into different variations of the classic version, right? So, have you ever tried white lasagna?
Simple white lasagna
There isn't just one white lasagna recipe. The easiest way to make it is to use the same ingredients as the Bolognese sauce for lasagna – just eliminate the tomato. Then use lasagna egg noodles, béchamel sauce, Parmigiano Reggiano cheese and minced beef with pork to make a white version of the meat sauce. How? Chop celery, carrots and onion and let them sauté together in a pan with oil and butter. Once this soffritto is ready, add the minced meat and once browned, add some white wine and let it evaporate. Add a little milk (about half a glass for 500 g of minced meat), salt and pepper. Lower the heat and cook for about 45 minutes. Once the meat sauce is ready, proceed to assemble the lasagna with a layer of pasta followed by a layer of béchamel sauce, one layer of meat and one layer of grated Parmigiano Reggiano. The lasagna will then be baked in the oven at 400°F (200°C) for 40 minutes.
White meat lasagna
To make another version of white lasagna, use other types of meat! Capon, duck, veal and rabbit are perfect for a white meat sauce without tomato.
White fish lasagna
What better way to make a white sauce for lasagna than with fish? Prawns, clams, crab, trout or salmon are just a few ideas that you can combine with pesto, vegetables and cheese. Yum!
Vegetarian white lasagna
You can really have fun with this one! For the vegetarian version of white lasagna, make a vegetable sauce or a cream with vegetables. Use mushrooms and different cheeses. The potential combinations are endless!