Forgetting Lasagne Sheets in the Pantry: Creative Solutions to a Common Problem
It's an all-too-familiar predicament for many home cooks: having bought too many dried lasagne sheets and not knowing what to do with them. According to Jordon Ezra King, founder of The A Curious Cook newsletter, the key is to view these sheets as more than just one type of pasta. "The bolognese version dominates people's imagination, but lasagne is much more of a framework," he notes. This mindset can open up new possibilities for creative cooking.
One solution is to incorporate the lasagne sheets into soupy dishes like minestrone or pasta e ceci, as chef and co-owner of Gina's in Chingford, Essex, Mattie Taiano suggests. Simply bash them with a rolling pin and add them to your favorite soup recipe. Alternatively, Chef Theo Randall of Cucina Italiana at the InterContinental London Park Lane recommends breaking the pasta lengthways and cooking it in boiling salted water before adding it to a ragu-like sauce.
Those who enjoy making their own pasta from scratch can also utilize lasagne sheets as a base for their creations. "If you were to make the pasta yourself, you'd essentially be making lasagne sheets anyway," notes King. In this case, the traditional Ligurian dish mandilli de sea can be adapted by cooking lasagne in boiling salted water and then layering it with pesto.
For those short on time, there are also quicker alternatives. Mixing the ragu and bechamel sauces together before baking is a good option, as King advises, as they will blend into each other during cooking. And if all else fails, some chefs suggest giving the lasagne sheets away as gifts – a suitable solution for the holiday season.
The bottom line is that there are no hard-and-fast rules when it comes to lasagne sheets. With a little creativity and flexibility, these versatile pasta sheets can be repurposed into a variety of delicious dishes, from soups to casseroles.
It's an all-too-familiar predicament for many home cooks: having bought too many dried lasagne sheets and not knowing what to do with them. According to Jordon Ezra King, founder of The A Curious Cook newsletter, the key is to view these sheets as more than just one type of pasta. "The bolognese version dominates people's imagination, but lasagne is much more of a framework," he notes. This mindset can open up new possibilities for creative cooking.
One solution is to incorporate the lasagne sheets into soupy dishes like minestrone or pasta e ceci, as chef and co-owner of Gina's in Chingford, Essex, Mattie Taiano suggests. Simply bash them with a rolling pin and add them to your favorite soup recipe. Alternatively, Chef Theo Randall of Cucina Italiana at the InterContinental London Park Lane recommends breaking the pasta lengthways and cooking it in boiling salted water before adding it to a ragu-like sauce.
Those who enjoy making their own pasta from scratch can also utilize lasagne sheets as a base for their creations. "If you were to make the pasta yourself, you'd essentially be making lasagne sheets anyway," notes King. In this case, the traditional Ligurian dish mandilli de sea can be adapted by cooking lasagne in boiling salted water and then layering it with pesto.
For those short on time, there are also quicker alternatives. Mixing the ragu and bechamel sauces together before baking is a good option, as King advises, as they will blend into each other during cooking. And if all else fails, some chefs suggest giving the lasagne sheets away as gifts – a suitable solution for the holiday season.
The bottom line is that there are no hard-and-fast rules when it comes to lasagne sheets. With a little creativity and flexibility, these versatile pasta sheets can be repurposed into a variety of delicious dishes, from soups to casseroles.
but seriously, gotta give credit to Jordon Ezra King for suggesting we see these sheets as more than just 1 type of pasta. I mean, who needs a framework that rigidly? 
sounds like a weird hack, but hey, chefs r people too, right? maybe its just about thinking outside the (lasagne) box 
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u can also make pasta 2 & use it as a base, thats genius! or just mix & match w/ other pasta shapes. gotta love lasagne sheet hacks 
so i tried making pasta e ceci and it turned out amazing, just bash the lasagne sheet with a rolling pin and add to soup recipe. also if you're short on time, just mix ragu & bechamel sauces together before baking, game changer 
I'm so sick of buying too many lasagne sheets only to end up making the same old thing every time 
. But you know what? This problem is actually kinda exciting! 
Like, who needs to be stuck in a culinary rut when you can get creative with it?! 
. And if all else fails, gifting them away is always a good idea... especially during the holidays 
. I mean, who doesn't love a good lasagne-themed gift? 
instead of throwing them away (gasp!), let's get creative and try new recipes. 
my tip: just mix the ragu & bechamel sauces together before baking - game changer! 