Okay .. everywhere I read a recipe for lasagna .. it says cheese on top of noodles, sauce on top of cheese.
However, the one time I tried making it like this, I had a really hard time getting the cheese (ricotta) to spread over the noodles .. so I reverted back to sauce over the noodles, cheese over the sauce.
Am I really the only one who stacks a lasagna that way??? And does it really matter??
cocoa
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Re: Lasagna - How Do You Stack It??
i lay down sauce on pan.then noodles. then i do a bit of sauce, cheese and a bit more sauce then noodle. it all gets mixed up anyway, so there isn't a wrong way. are your noodles dry or still wet when you put stuff on?
Kel
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Re: Lasagna - How Do You Stack It??
My lasagna comes out very good .. I just basically asked the question because any time I hear/see a recipe for lasagna, I always hear the order as noodles, cheese, sauce, repeat.
And yes, I put a thin layer of sauce on the bottom of the dish, and when I remove the noodles from the water, I dry them off.
Like I said, the one time I tried lasagna in the noodles-cheese-sauce order .. the ricotta cheese was very difficult to spread over the noodles (it's tricky over sauce, too .. but easier than over noodles) .. so I was surprised that is the only way I've heard/seen recipes for lasagna .. and because I can't imagine that there is a 'logical' reason behind doing it in that order. Sometimes there is a method to cooking madness .. but this one I just can't figure out.
I'm not looking to change how I do it .. just looking to satisfy my curiousity.
cocoa
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Re: Lasagna - How Do You Stack It??
let me ask you this...do you add egg to the cheese mixture? dh laughed at me when i added an egg but it gives the cheese substance. anyway, check out this tip i just found. doesn't help your question but thought it was interesting. trying to find an answer to your question. To help the lasagna hold together when sliced, arrange the first layer of noodles lengthwise in the pan. Then put the next layer crosswise, and continue alternating until finished.
i've also seen recipes where you just do noodles, cheese, noodles, cheese, noodles and THEN sauce. i don't like that, personally. still looking.
okay, here's a pic where the sauce goes on top of the noodles but they are using a lot of sauce and a lot of cheese and rather than spreading, it looks like they are plopping on. make sense? anyway, i'm not finding an answer. sorry.
eta: my pic won't post, but i'm seeing that you are not wrong in the way you make it.
Anniegrl
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Re: Lasagna - How Do You Stack It??
I do cheese on top of noodles. I add an egg just like cocoa said which makes the ricotta a little looser and easier to spread. I also make sure the noodles are dry and use a rubber spatula to spread the ricotta mixture.
Kel
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Re: Lasagna - How Do You Stack It??
I'm not an add-egg kinda person. I don't do it for meatloaf, and I don't do it for my lasagna .. and I know that's pretty much a standard thing to do for both meatloaf & lasagna .. but I don't, and I don't feel like it's compromising a thing at all for either one the way I make them.
I am not having a problem with my lasagna .. it holds together just fine .. and I can handle spreading the ricotta over the sauce ..
I just find it interesting how everywhere everyone says noodles-cheese-sauce.
Personally, though, I feel like there really is not 'wrong' to cooking if what you're making tastes good!
Thanks for the input!!
pschica
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Re: Lasagna - How Do You Stack It??
i think you can do whateevr you want - you can layer everythign together, or keep it seperate! we try it all different ways. i am an 'add-egg and parsley' type of lasagna cook, it just seems to add a little extra!
LImom
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Re: Lasagna - How Do You Stack It??
Although the recipes do say to spread the cheese over the noodles, I use one spoon to scoup the cheese off the another spoon, so in effect I am putting lots of dollops of ricotta on the noodles. Then after I put the sauce and the next layer of noodles, I press down on the noodles and the dollops of ricotta get mashed into a layer. Does this make sense anyone??? It works, so I hope it makes sense.
Hazeleyes33
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Re: Lasagna - How Do You Stack It??
I know exactly what you mean with the cheese over the noodles. I also put the sauce down first, then the no-boil noodles, ground meat, ricotta cheese, mozzerella cheese and then sauce.... I put in my ricotta, 1 egg, salt, pepper, garlic and onion. Even though we are talking about lasagna, I do the same thing with the ricotta for baked ziti and I personally think I make the best baked ziti. I use sooo much cheese!!
Kel
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Re: Lasagna - How Do You Stack It??
Posted by Hazeleyes33
I use sooo much cheese!!
Oh, yes .. I LOVE cheese!!
LImom
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Re: Lasagna - How Do You Stack It??
Posted by Hazeleyes33 I personally think I make the best baked ziti. I use sooo much cheese!!
Hazeleyes, do you mind sharing your baked ziti recipe with me? My children love it but I don't know how to make a good sauce. Which brand of canned tomatoes are best and do you use whole plum or crushed? My kids would love a good surprise. Thanks. Mary
Hazeleyes33
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Re: Lasagna - How Do You Stack It??
I can't lie, I use jar sauce!! I have to tell you though, my father, who would NEVER buy jar sauce really liked my baked ziti the first time I ever made it. I even told him what kind of sauce it was, he didn't say a word!!
LImom
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Re: Lasagna - How Do You Stack It??
Really, a sauce from a jar is good? Which one. I've tried several and they are quite disappointing.
thanks
Anniegrl
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Re: Lasagna - How Do You Stack It??
Posted by LImom
Really, a sauce from a jar is good? Which one. I've tried several and they are quite disappointing.
thanks
Rao's is awesome! It's expensive though; about $7 for a jar
LImom
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Re: Lasagna - How Do You Stack It??
Great to know it's worth it. You don't mind paying if it's good. When it's got lots of sugar and veggies but not much flavor what good is it? Thanks so much.
Hazeleyes33
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Re: Lasagna - How Do You Stack It??
I usually use Francesco Rinaldi. I have just found Barilla Pesto and Tomato Sauce and I think it is really good. I put it over linguine.
LImom
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Re: Lasagna - How Do You Stack It??
Posted by Hazeleyes33
I usually use Francesco Rinaldi. I have just found Barilla Pesto and Tomato Sauce and I think it is really good. I put it over linguine.
I always avoid Franceso Rinaldi because it's on sale so often. LOL!!! Thinking...if it's on sale it's not so great.
What cheeses and how much cheese and sauce do you use in your baked ziti? Do you use low fat, part skim or whole milk cheeses? Do you layer them or mix them all together? I guess you don't use meat in your sauce - just the jarred sauce? I've tried several recipes over the years and have never been happy. It usually comes out dry.
I really would like to make it. Thanks so much.
Hazeleyes33
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Re: Lasagna - How Do You Stack It??
I use either Polly-O or Sorrento. I use half the big container of Ricotta. I add an egg, salt, pepper, garlic and onion. I use the 16 oz. mozzerella. With baked ziti I usually don't use meat. I have though in the past. I layer the ziti: sauce, ziti, ricotta mix, mozzerella, sauce..etc. I bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour. My dh thinks it always tastes better the next day and it usually does-lol!
Kel
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Re: Lasagna - How Do You Stack It??
bump
LImom
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Re: Lasagna - How Do You Stack It??
Posted by Hazeleyes33
I use either Polly-O or Sorrento. I use half the big container of Ricotta. I add an egg, salt, pepper, garlic and onion. I use the 16 oz. mozzerella. With baked ziti I usually don't use meat. I have though in the past. I layer the ziti: sauce, ziti, ricotta mix, mozzerella, sauce..etc. I bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour. My dh thinks it always tastes better the next day and it usually does-lol!
