Cocina Digital presents
Iconic Foods & Drinks - Lasagna

Lasagna. If there were ever an iconic food, this one certainly qualifies.

If you’re like so many of us (and depending on when you last ate), you’re already imagining your fork pushing through those glorious layers of pasta sheets and cheese and setting you up for that first glorious bite.

Those creamy sauces and heavy fillings layered in between lasagna strips topped with melted cheese hits all the right spots… heaven on a fork.

If that wasn’t already enough, lasagna has one of those rare characteristics of a dish, which is that it tastes just as good the next day when re-heated. That’s because the ingredients in lasagna have another night together to meld. Admit it: you delight in the convenience of re-heating lasagna in a microwave and loving it all over again.

Rich in history, there are not many homemade, old-fashioned, and creative dishes like lasagna.

In this article, we will dip further in the cheesy layers of lasagna to enlighten you about its origin, the ingredients that make it mouthwatering, and some underrated tips food lovers will enjoy.

If you have ever asked yourself what is the history of lasagna or how long will cooked lasagna last in the refrigerator, then you are at the right place.

Welcome to Iconic Foods & Dishes: Lasagna, presented by Cocina Digital.

What Is Lasagna?

We know, it is a silly question. Kind of like asking what color is the sky or why you shouldn't stare at the sun, but it’s all good.

Lasagna is a baked dish made of pasta using wide flat strips, cheese, and meat or vegetable sauce. It is normally cooked into a casserole and sliced upon serving.

Moreover, lasagna is considered as a comfort food nowadays by most cultures. It is cooked at family dinners, on holidays, and even in fancy restaurants.

It can be cooked with a variety of meat and sauces or roasted vegetables. Irrespective of its form, lasagna is always satisfying.

A Google search of lasagna will show an endless list of questions regarding how to prepare the pasta sheets, the type of flour to use, how long to bake lasagna, and so on. So, it is a dish that is still as relevant in the 21st century as it was in ancient Roman times.

Needless to say, when you have a dish as famous as lasagna, it attracts purists who claim to know what is “authentic” lasagna. For them, we say, “Don’t take yourselves too seriously.” Life is short.

Fun Fact: Lasagna is a meal that people love so much that there is aNational Lasagna Day , which is held in the U.S. every July 29.

A Rich and Layered History

While exploring the question, what is the history of lasagna begins with an interesting story that goes back to the old times. It was probably first created in Ancient Greece or Rome, where cake dishes made of layers of dough were popular.

The name in the Greek language is Laganon, which means a piece of flat dough cut into strips.

The Romans used a word to denote the pot where they cooked their food. It was called “lasanum”, which, due to development, came to denote the food itself. During the Middle Ages, lasagna became more prominent in Italy. It was first written down in the Memoriali Bolognesi (1282).

A cookbook written later in the 14th century, the Liber de Coquina, includes one recipe instructing on how to boil pasta sheets, then to put layers of cheese and spices inside. This still remains the modern way to make lasagna.

This may come to you as a surprise but lasagna was not always a home food. It was a dish that was only eaten during special occasions in places such as Naples or Bologna, only during the Carnival or major religious holidays.

However, as years rolled by, it started making its way off royal tables to the kitchens of ordinary people worldwide.

Key Ingredients of Lasagna

Lasagna has an infinite number of variations, but there are always a few common components that recur in recipes and across geographies.

The base is formed with pasta sheets, sauces, and cheese, but the combination of their use can be severely different.

The Bolognese Version

The Bolognese version includes alternating layers of fresh egg pasta, slow-cooked ragu (meat sauce), soft bechamel and Parmigiano-Reggiano. The style of preparation is known to be stable and nutritious and it is also one of the features of North Italian cuisine.

The Neapolitan Variety

The Neapolitan variety of South Italy is likely to consist of ricotta, mozzarella, and meat sauce which has tomatoes, and/or additional ingredients, including meatballs or cooked eggs.

Its All In The Cheese

The major distinction is the cheese. Northern dishes tend to be creamy with the use of bechamel whereas Southern styles tend to follow ricotta or another soft cheese. In any case, cheese takes a leading role in influencing the texture and flavor of the dish.

Our Favorite Variety

We at Cocina Digital have a discerning palate. Despite the list provided above, a recent survey conducted by the National Institute of Lasagna (NIL) — ok, we made that up; this survey was just us — finds that the best lasagna is the one that someone else made and served to us.

Serving Tips & Storage Advice

Although lasagna is a wholesome dish itself, many food enthusiasts will question what to serve with lasagna besides salads. The secret is to balance. The sides should be light because lasagna is rich and fulfilling.

These are some of the great side options:

• 🫑 Vegetables, roasted such as zucchini, asparagus or bell peppers

• 🍞 Toasted garlic bread or simple focaccia to dip in more an extra sauce

• 🍋 Contrasting fresh citrus-slaws or arugula with lemon dressing

When deciding what to serve with lasagna besides salads, you might be surprised by how well citrus slaws or garlic bread balance out the richness.

Also, red wines such as Chianti or Merlot wine pair well with tomato based lasagna. Sparkling water with lemon or iced tea will also be good to cleanse the palate, in case you are not taking alcohol.

Storage Advice

This brings us to the next question: how long will cooked lasagna last in the refrigerator? It all depends on storage. Cooked lasagna can be kept in the fridge covered in an airtight container for up to 3 to 5 days.

You can also freeze lasagna, both cooked and uncooked, for up to three months. To reheat refrigerated portions, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and defrost refrigerated portions by heating them in the oven. This will take about 30 minutes. It also may be cooked in a microwave but an oven provides better texture and avoids sogginess.

Lasagna Around the World Today

Today, lasagna is loved in almost all continents. In America, it was popularized among Italian immigrants in the early parts of the 20th century. Things were adapted to the American palate, where the béchamel would be substituted by ricotta and the famous carnivorous sauces replaced by ground beef or sausages.

Lasagna is one of the top 10 famous Italian foods in the U.S. It is regarded as a comfort food and a festive meal. It is served on informal family dinner tables and also during festive occasions of the year such as Thanksgiving or Christmas.

Different countries enjoy distinctive versions of lasagna. It is normal to add slices of ham and mozzarella to it in Brazil. Whereas, in Japan, lasagna is modified to local tastes, such as with miso or seafood. Its popularity all around the globe demonstrates how universal the affection to this dish can be.

Variations Worth Exploring

Lasagna is a creative dish. The classic beef and cheese combination is always a favorite but in this day and age, new variations are being made due to unique ingredients and new diets.

Some of the common variations are as follows:

• 👏 Vegetarian Lasagna — Stuffed with mushrooms, spinach or roasted zucchini or squash

• 👏 Seafood Lasagna — Makes use of either shrimp, scallops or salmon combined with béchamel or tomato sauce

• 👏 Vegan Lasagna — Vegetable-based mozzarella, dairy-free ricotta, and cashew cream replace milk and cream products.

• 👏 Gluten-Free Lasagna — Encourages the use of zucchini ribbons, rice noodles or even lentil sheets

• 👏 Roll-up Lasagna — Instead of being layered, noodles are filled, rolled and then baked in separate batches

One of them is called dessert lasagna; you may put crepe, mascarpone, or even chocolate or berries. It is not a typical kind of lasagna, but it demonstrates how one can be innovative with whatever they want to prepare.

Nutrition and Calories

Ok, let us talk about real numbers: how many calories is lasagna? A conventional meat and cheese lasagna contains about 500 to 600 calories per 1 cup serving. The amount may vary with ingredients however. This is especially true when cream, sausage, or additional cheese is added.

The serving sizes also carry a heavy load of protein of approximately 20-30grams, carbs of 30-40grams and 15-25 grams of fat. Make it lighter by using part-skim ricotta or eating less meat or putting more vegetables in it.

It is definitely possible to include lasagna in a healthy life. It is all about the balance and liking something you love but not having too much of it.

Pop Culture and Nostalgia

Lasagna is not only a meal, it brings a gush of emotions. Just imagine Garfield, lasagna-loving comic strip cat or laudable moments on TV series and movies that lasagna symbolized love and hard work. It is frequently found in books of comfort food and collection of family recipe cards.

Moreover, lasagna is associated with comfort food and a homely vibe in most families. The dish is a classic with stories, memories, and laughed-over variation, such as the one with a crispy top (your mom has her version) or the weird-vegetable one (a signature of a friend).

Social traditions like potlucks, lasagna bake-offs, and Sunday dinners have been inspired by lasagnas. There aren’t many dishes that can bring whole communities together. Lasagna is one of them.

The Iconic Legacy

Lasagna is now a favorite meal all over the world, which was originally produced in Italy. It has been worked on to myriad variations, but any variety would always provide the comfort and warmth of a home-cooked meal. It offers convenience as you can freeze it if you want to serve it later, or if you want, you can put it on the table piping hot, right after you make it.

Backed by famed history, lasagna includes a scrap bit of nostalgia in every bite. Every layer, be it meat, veggies, or cheese, brings something new, and it is both comfort food and a trip down memory lane.

For a dish that is centuries old, it still looks beautiful.

This dish has covered continents, centuries, and still remains close to its original comfort self. It does not matter whether you are eating it during holidays or weekdays, lasagna will always find a way to all tables of the world.