Pasta, oregano, tomatoes, seasoning sauces, and oodles of cheese - Italian cuisine is for those who love sumptuous dining. Lasagna rolls form a big part of the regular Italian fare, as any other cheese and pasta dish.
Once again, my life has been saved... by the miracle... of lasagna. ~ Garfield (from Garfield: The Movie)
Who can possibly miss this lazy, almost-obese, self assuming, conceited orange tabby cat's love (which sometimes assumes nearly devotional proportions) for Lasagna.
Indeed, Garfield would scarce flinch to sell his soul to the Devil, if the latter were to propose such a deal in exchange for providing our worldly-wise tabby, with all the lasagna he could ask for in his entire life.
Here are a couple of recipes to try out in your very own kitchen. They are really easy to make and as far as the ingredients are concerned (Italian pastas, sauces, seasonings), you'll find most of them in your kitchen itself and the rest can be procured easily from your neighborhood grocer. It's worth giving these classic recipes a try, as they taste divine.
Basic Recipe
Ingredients
Lasagna Noodles, 10 slabs (cooked and drained)
Ricotta Cheese, 2 cups
Mozzarella Cheese, 3½ cups (2 cups for topping, rest for baking) (shredded)
Eggs, 2
Parmesan Cheese, ½ cup
Spaghetti Sauce, 32 oz.
Parsley, 2 tbsp. (chopped)
Preparation Method
Mix the ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese, ½ cup mozzarella cheese, eggs, and parsley together.
Spread approximately ⅓ cup of the above mixture upon one noodle slab.
Roll up the slab tightly and place it in a microwave baking pan, which has been greased, seam side down.
Repeat the procedure with the other slabs and the remaining cheese mixture.
Spread the left over cheese mixture over the rolls and sprinkle the remaining 2 cups of grated mozzarella cheese over them.
Cover them with a microwave safe wrap or foil and set the temperature at high.
Cook for about 15-20 minutes till the cheese melts entirely.
If you want, you can garnish the dish with fresh mint and coriander leaves, and sprinkle some oregano seasoning over it.
Pepperoni Recipe
Ingredients
Lasagna Noodles, 6 slabs (cooked and drained)
Chives, 1 tsp. (minced)
Ricotta Cheese, 1½ cups
Dried Oregano, 1 tsp.
Pepperoni - 36 to 48 slices
Swiss Cheese, 6 slices (each slice cut into 3 parts)
Parmesan Cheese, ½ cup (shredded)
Spaghetti Sauce, 2 cups
Preparation Method
Mix the ricotta cheese, chives, and oregano together.
Lay out the slabs on your work surface and spread ¼ cup of the above mixture over each slab.
Top the cheese and herbs mixture with Swiss cheese and pepperoni.
Roll up each slab like a pinwheel and place them on a greased microwave cooking pan, seam side down.
Slather spaghetti sauce over the rolls.
Cover with a microwave safe wrap or foil and set the temperature at 350° F. Bake for about 25- 28 minutes or till bubbles start appearing.
Remove the cover and sprinkle Parmesan cheese over the rolls.
Cover and cook for another 5 minutes or till the cheese melts
Garnish with chili flakes or basil leaves.
The most important point to remember while making these recipes, is to roll up each slab after adding the condiments, rather than layering them alternately with cheese and condiment mixtures. If you know the basics of how to make and layer them, then, preparing these recipes will be extremely easy for you.
It is best to use extra virgin olive oil to grease the baking pan, because olive oil brings out the authentic Italian flavor of this dish. As a parting note, I would yet again like to quote Garfield's ultimate take on this Italian recipe: