Easy Lasagna Soup Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How to thicken up soupy lasagna? ›

You can use tin foil for a portion of the baking process, but baking the dish uncovered for at least 70% of the cooking time will help thicken the lasagna. It's also important to let the lasagna cool for at least 20 minutes, allowing for excess water to evaporate and residual oils to coagulate and solidify.

Yes, you can absolutely boil your lasagna noodles – even the oven-ready type. I prefer to par-boil (partially boil) oven-ready dried noodles for lasagna for 3-5 minutes before they become “al dente”. Al dente is an Italian term that literally means 'to the tooth'.

A common source of angst for lasagna makers is a soupy consistency, which is often the result of piling on a watery sauce that hasn't reduced enough. Whether you're making a tomato and meat sauce from scratch or using a jarred sauce, you can thicken it with cornstarch to prevent the problem of a soupy lasagna.

While the exact origin of lasagna soup is unclear, it is believed to have originated in the United States, likely as a creative adaptation of the popular pasta dish. Italy, known for its love of pasta, specifically lasagna, inspired the creation of lasagna soup.

Don't use no-boil lasagna noodles. They require the sauce to have extra water in it to rehydrate the noodles. Between how many noodles and how much to dilute the sauce, it is a guessing game how it will turn out. Cook the noodles very al dente before assembling the lasagna, so you can use thick sauce.

While you don't need to cook their no-boil noodles for a traditional layered-up lasagna, they advise, "If you are making lasagna roll-ups, you can boil Barilla® Oven-Ready Lasagna for 3-5 minutes, so the sheets become more pliable and can be easily rolled." Ronzoni recommends that their Oven Ready Lasagna noodles be ...

“When the no-boil noodle sheets are layered in between wet ingredients like sauce and ricotta cheese and then baked, they act like a sponge. The dried pasta begins to absorb the water from the surrounding ingredients, rehydrating and softening to a sturdy yet tender texture over time.”

So, to achieve the perfect lasagna, the consistency of the sauce is absolutely essential. Both the ragù and béchamel sauce should be dense and creamy. Avoid sauces that are too liquid and slide to the bottom of the dish. A thicker consistency of the sauce will allow the pasta to be flavoured in the best possible way.

10 Most Common Lasagna Mistakes

There shouldn't be too much or too little filling. Too much between one layer and another will keep you from ever getting a perfect slice. Too little and all you'll taste is pasta.

Does fresh mozzarella make lasagna watery? ›

Most people use low-moisture mozzarella in lasagna, and I am no exception. Fresh mozzarella tastes phenomenal in lasagna; however, the extra moisture will make the lasagna a bit watery. Sometimes I'll use bagged, shredded mozz in the layers but then will splurge for the good stuff on top.

Origins and history

Lasagna originated in Italy during the Middle Ages.

In southern Italy lasagna is generally made with dried sheets of pasta layered with rich meat ragú, ricotta and mozzarella. In the north, especially in Bologna, the most popular version of lasagna features fresh egg pasta colored green with spinach and layered with ragú, bechamel and Parmigiano Reggiano.

The primary differences I found between American lasagne and Italian lasagne were: The use of a layer or two of white bechamel (“"besciamella”) sauce imparts a nice creaminess to the lasagne in Italy. The pasta sheets seemed thinner and “fresher” in Italian pasta, very tender and with a “"melt in your mouth” texture.

Mistake number 3: the sauce is too runny

If it is, don't worry, just let it reduce on the stove for around twenty minutes. Trust me, lasagna “boiled” in sauce just isn't the same. The key is to have a nice, thick sauce that won't seep too much into the pasta, but rather, get absorbed into it, making it more flavorful.

The best way is to keep your ingredients dry. Cook your pasta sauce long enough to boil out most of the moisture so the sauce is thick.

Our best advice is to drain and rinse the cooked noodles, using a colander. Then, carefully dry each noodle by laying it on a piece of parchment or waxed paper, dabbing it with a paper towel, and letting it air dry until most of the water is gone.

Just like steak, you need to allow the lasagna to rest before slicing into it. Resting or letting it cool for a good 10 to 15 minutes at least allows the heat to dissipate, the ingredients to settle from its bubbling state in the oven, and firms up the cheese that you added on top.