Make fresh homemade lasagna noodles (from scratch!) using this simple recipe and video tutorial. Tips for drying, storing, and using homemade lasagna noodles are provided.
For the best lasagna experience, practice making silky homemade lasagna noodles once you have mastered making fresh homemade pasta. When nestled between all the traditional ingredients—rich Ragù Bolognese, creamy Bèchamel sauce, and melted Parmesan cheese—the taste and texture are utterly exquisite, like restaurant-quality exquisite, as opposed to the typical boxed or “no boil” option.
Making pasta dough, rolling it into sheets, and cutting the sheets into lasagna noodles are the three main steps in my recipe and method. You’ll have enough lasagna noodles left over to fill a 9 by 13-inch pan (or something comparable), which serves up to 6 people.
Prior to assembly, the lasagna noodles can be prepared ahead of time and kept at room temperature, chilled, or dried out (more on this in a moment). In the steps below, I use my Kitchen Aid stand mixer with the roller attachment. However, a hand-crank pasta machine works well too.
Ingredients You Need to Make Homemade Lasagna Noodles
Lasagne is arguably the king of comfort food and one of the heartiest dishes in the Italian pasta repertoire. The layered, cheesy dish goes back to the Middle Ages in Naples, also the birthplace of modern day pizza, and may even be based on a similar dish enjoyed in Ancient Rome. So every time you make lasagna, youre part of the stacked dishs history!
There are many different types of lasagna recipes, from light and creamy vegetarian dishes where vegetables are the star to rich, meaty, cheesy dishes like my Lasagna with Cottage Cheese. These are the same kind of thin, supple, al dente pasta sheets that they all share. Therefore, incorporate them into all of your preferred lasagna recipes.
You can certainly roll out pasta by hand with a rolling pin if you don’t have a machine for doing so. If you choose to go this route, I advise letting the dough rest for an additional hour (instead of the usual 30 minutes) to allow the gluten to relax, making the dough softer and more manageable.
Step #1: Make Pasta Dough
Tip: No food processor? No problem. Visit this article for detailed instructions and a video on how to make pasta dough by hand: Beginner’s Guide to Fresh Homemade Pasta Dough.
Using a colander to drain cooked lasagna noodles can result in their tangling or tearing. To prevent this, remove individual noodles as soon as they are al dente using metal tongs. After that, let them dry on a wire rack set over a baking sheet (the sheet collects any extra water). The noodles cool much faster and are simpler to handle.
FAQ
How do you dry lasagna sheets flat?
Here’s my method, always works. The lasagna sheets should be prepared and allowed to dry slightly, but not to the point of cracking. They should be stacked with wax or parchment paper in between each sheet, and semolina or cornmeal should be liberally sprinkled on each sheet. Wrap the entire package in plastic wrap or a good-sized grocery bag.
How do you dry out lasagna?
Since lasagna is an indulgent dish, use full-fat cheese whenever possible. Also, press as much moisture from the cheese as you can before adding it to the dish. Adding flavor and aiding in the absorption of any extra moisture is a generous handful of dry cheese, like finely shredded Parmesan.
Should you wet dry lasagne sheets?
Boil the lasagne sheets in a single layer for five minutes. (Even though the packet instructs against pre-cooking, I find that soaking enhances texture. ).
How do you remove the water from lasagna?
Using a colander to drain cooked lasagna noodles can result in their tangling or tearing. To prevent this, remove individual noodles as soon as they are al dente using metal tongs. After that, let them dry on a wire rack set over a baking sheet (the sheet collects any extra water).