7 secret ingredients for a delicious lasagne
Who isn’t a fan of lasagne? In the online corridors of Reddit, we came across a whole host of passionate lasagne makers who shared their secret ingredients for lasagne with us. We’re almost jealous that we hadn’t discovered some of these ingredients ourselves sooner. Just think how many delicious lasagnes we would have eaten in our lives by now.
When it comes to lasagne, you can make quite a few mistakes. Such a shame! Because if there’s one dish you need to put a lot of love into, it’s lasagne. A good lasagne needs time and attention. For example, always use fresh ingredients, especially fresh pasta sheets. And let your baby rest when it comes out of the oven. You know the rumour that lasagne always tastes better the next day, right? That’s because the flavours have had time to meld. So don’t eat it piping hot straight away; let it cool down for a little while.
These ingredients for your lasagne are worth knowing
And finally: try the following secret ingredients. With thanks to the lasagne lovers on Reddit.
1. Anchovies
Anchovies really deserve a pat on the back, because they are incredibly versatile and flavourful. My favourite pasta sauce contains, besides jarred roasted peppers, tomato purée and garlic, a few anchovy fillets. They add so much depth to the sauce—and the same goes for the sauce you make for your lasagne. An umami boost without making your lasagne taste overly fishy. Two fillets (which you let melt in the pan after sautéing the garlic and onion) are enough to create an explosion of flavour.
2. Parmesan rind
Don’t worry: your lasagne won’t actually contain pieces of Parmesan rind. That would make things rather chewy. No, you let a Parmesan rind simmer along in your sauce. Preferably for several hours, so the flavour of the Parmesan fully infuses the sauce. So delicious. Plus, it’s a smart way to make use of leftover Parmesan rind. By the way, did you know you can also make an incredible snack with those rinds?
3. A little red wine… and port
You may already know that red wine works well in pasta sauce. Red wine has a fresh acidity that helps balance the acidity of the tomatoes. This gives your sauce a softer, more rounded flavour. But did you know that port is just as valuable an addition to your lasagne, preferably together with red wine? Port is sweet and full-bodied. The fresh acidity of red wine combined with the sweetness and richness of port gives your sauce an incredible amount of depth. Give it a try—and naturally pour yourself a glass too.
4. Toasted fennel seeds
Fennel seeds have an anise-like flavour. Toast them and they also become slightly nutty. A very surprising extra touch for your sauce. Don’t go overboard, as too much fennel can give it a liquorice flavour. We’re still eating lasagne tonight, not a bag of liquorice.
5. Fresh nutmeg
A good béchamel sauce is the star of a delicious lasagne. A pinch of nutmeg is essential in this sauce. Preferably freshly grated, because it tastes just that little bit better than the ground kind from a jar. Nutmeg gives your béchamel sauce a subtly earthy flavour. It also nicely balances the other flavours in your lasagne. As with the fennel seeds, the same applies to nutmeg: try not to overdo it. Less is more.
6. Seasoned ricotta
Do you like adding ricotta to your lasagne? So do we. It makes your lasagne much creamier, don’t you think? Ricotta itself is fairly mild in flavour. You can add extra flavours to this soft Italian cheese. How about some lemon zest? Or finely chopped basil leaves? Stir them into the ricotta and you’ll notice that your lasagne gets a serious flavour boost.
7. Mix beef mince and pork mince
Why use only beef mince when you can add some pork too? Beef mince has a strong, savoury flavour and a fairly firm texture. Pork, on the other hand, is softer, fattier and has a milder, sweeter flavour. If you use only beef mince, the meat in your lasagne bolognese can become quite dry. Fattier pork is your salvation here. An Italian trick we’re glad has crossed national borders.
Craving lasagne but don’t have the energy to put love into it? Don’t feel guilty: at this supermarket, you can get a lasagne that gives the love right back. We wouldn’t dare say whether your dinner companions will notice your secret cheat, but this ready-made tub of comfort food is absolutely good enough to pass muster.
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