What is the correct order to layer lasagne in?

[breatheslowly]

Please don't tell me there isn't a correct way - I need a definitive answer. I do meat, pasta, white sauce x 3 plus some cheese on the top. But I find putting the meat sauce onto the white sauce strangely disturbing (as it is lumpy so doesn't pour on).

[Oblomov]

I made one yesterday for ds1's 8th party, that all our family came to. They said it was delicious. But i am with ChippingIn here, what sort of flippin dishes do you all have that you can get all these layers in? Drives me nuts. Unlike Wembly's dh who says hers has too much pasta, I always feel that I could do with a deeper pan, to get a few more layers, specificaly a few more layers of pasta in, to mine.
God, who knew that flippin lasagne, was so complicated !!

[FannyPriceless]

zengarden / chippingin - I don't think a really deep dish is needed. This one from John Lewis is quite nice, even though only 6cm deep.

I think the key is lasagne is best with lots of thin layers. Tasty but compact, and it avoids the wet sloppiness which is a bad thing. One should be able to cut a square of lasagne and have it remain intact when transferred to the plate!

[FannyPriceless]

mitchy Are you feeling properly ostracised yet? Bechamel in first?

[breatheslowly]

Chipping's lasagne sounds lovely. Just need to convince DH to eat more veg. I make lasagne in a very deep roasting tin so I can get all of the layers in and make lots for the freezer. DH likes it with chorizo added to the ragu, which makes me cringe slightly for not being Italian.

[MitchieInge]

There must be a reason! Is it a retro thing? Is it my mental disorder?

It's probably from a very early recipe or maybe family tradition. I thought everyone did it. I knew I was a freak but had no idea it was to quite this extent!

[breatheslowly]

Mitchie - doesn't it just weld the pasta to the dish?

[MitchieInge]

no it makes it all lift out smoothly and nicely

I will have to phone my mum or something to find out where this comes from. Or has anyone got any recipe books that have lasagne in, do they say what order to do it in?

[ilovebabytv]

meat pasta sauce x3 with cheese on top here. Does everyone make it with white sauce, i always make cheese sauce for extra tastiness. Also what do other mner's prefer, when you can cut it into slices or when its a sloppy mess, mines is always the latter not through choice but it is always tasty nonetheless

[MitchieInge]

it's probably the long lost authentic approach, kept alive in my squalid kitchen

[ChippingInLovesEasterEggs]

Fanny it might not matter if you make meat lasagne, it certainly matters when you make vegetarian lasagne if you don't want to have to precook the vegetables first!!

Breatheslowly - just make it, don't tell him what's in it - I'm sure he'll love it and if not, more for you

[breatheslowly]

We have cheese sauce and I like it to cut into slices, so don't make the sauces ver liquid.

[CalamityKate]

God I loathe sloppy Lasagne [vomit]

I do:

Meat
Pasta
Sauce (cheesy)
Pasta
Meat
Pasta
Sauce
Thick layer grated cheese.

When it comes out of the oven, let it sit for 10 minutes or so to firm up, that way you can slice it into neat squares, and clearly see all the layers. Lovely.

Sloppy Lasagne - yuk.

[MitchieInge]

REM were RIGHT! I am NOT ALONE!

normal people on the Jamie Oliver forum or one normal person anyway

[GeorgeEliot]

Lasagne is the only thing dh can cook. He uses sliced mozzarella instead of the béchamel sauce. Always comes out fine.

[MitchieInge]

I have used layers of sliced mozzarella in addition to the sauce. I think I have a disorder of excessive enthusiasm for this sort of food.

[AmberLeaf]

I quite lke making it sloppy earlier in the day, but then reheating/serving later, by then its sort of sucked up the slop but is the best texture/wetness ratio.

So hungry for lasagne now.

[CiderwithBuda]

LOL at this thread!

I do ragu, lasagna sheets, béchamel, grated cheese, and repeat.

Dad does lasagna sheets on bottom for some reason.

My dad once really messed his up - it was very sloppy. dS loved it. Still talks about it and now requests 'Grandad's sloppy lasagna.'. Grandad not happy to have to keep making it like that!

[MitchieInge]

ok have found one actual friend who puts béchamel in first (except she uses cheese sauce but you know)

otherwise seems a bit of a niche practice

[MitchieInge]

I feel slightly obsessed and a bit mental to keep asking everyone in my life but do you ever feel like you can't drop a topic?

[Oblomov]

Mitchie, I put white sauce in first. I thought that was the norm. who are these nutters that put something else in first? . yeah right, put a sheet of pasta in first, to make sure it gets welded to the bottom, so you can't dish it out. yeah, like thats's sensible!! When I say white, I do a cheese sauce, usng red leicester, normally. so actually its kind of orange. always have done. adds more taste.

[MitchieInge]

YESSS! I just punched the air!

I love you!

[thrifty]

Til the cheese goes brown, buttons. Just realised you asked me a question on the first page.

[redglow]

I put pasta down on the bottom

[BellaVita]

See, my grandma was italian and her lasagnes contained hardly any meat.

When I make bolognaise, I take a portion out for the freezer and this will be used for a lasagne the following week.

I do...

Smear of bechemel on the bottom then

Meat
Bechemel
Mozzarella
Pasta

I carry on till I have about 4 layers, top off with the remaining bechemel, Mozzarella and Parmesan.