Lasagna

Lasagna in the crinkly American style

Lasagna, also lasagne, is both a form of pasta in sheets (often rippled in North America and other countries, though seldom so in Italy) and also a dish, sometimes named Lasagne al forno (meaning "Lasagne in the oven") made with alternate layers of pasta, cheese, and ragù (a meat sauce). While it is traditionally believed to have originated in Italy, evidence has come to light suggesting that a very similar meal known as "loseyns" (pronounced 'lasan') was eaten in the court of King Richard II of England in the 14th Century. The recipe was also featured in the first cookbook ever written in England. However, the claim is far from universally accepted, the Italian Embassy in London particularly speaking out against it for Italy.

The word "lasagna" is derived from the Greek word "lasanon" meaning chamber pot. The word was later borrowed by the Romans as "lasanum" to mean cooking pot. The Italians then used the word to refer to the dish in which what is now known as lasagna is made. The word lasagna or lasagne (plural) now simply applies to the dish itself. The British (and Italians) generally use the plural "lasagne" to mean both the dish and the pasta while the Americans commonly use the singular "lasagna".

Many recipes call for several kinds of cheese, most often ricotta and parmesan. The classic Lasagne alla Bolognese uses only Parmigiano Reggiano. Many recipes also add bechamel sauce (besciamella).

A variant is Lasagne verdi (green lasagne) which is the normal egg pasta with spinach added.

Lasagne was first recorded in the 13th century when it was used in a layered dish. This early version did not include tomatoes, which had not yet been discovered by Europeans.

Trivia

• Lasagna is the favorite dish of the fictional cat Garfield.

• Singer "Weird Al" Yankovic’s parody of the song "La Bamba" entitled "Lasagna" can be heard on his album Even Worse.

• Lasagna is the most popular ready meal in the UK; Sainsbury's sells 26 a minute.

Quotations

• "Due to the shape of the North American elk's esophagus, even if it could speak, it could not pronounce the word lasagna."

  - Cliff Clavin, Cheers

• "You know, there's a million fine looking women in the world, dude, but they don't all bring you lasagna at work. Most of 'em just cheat on you." --Silent Bob, in Clerks

• "We shall feast our grape-gleaners with lasagne so tempting to swallow in slippery ropes."

  - Robert Browning, poem, "Englishman in Italy"

• "I'll pick you up at half past three, we'll have lasagne."

  - Noel Gallagher

• "Go hang a salami, I'm a lasagna hog."

  [a palindrome, attributed to Baby Gramps]

• "I never met a Lasagna I didn't like."

  - Garfield, paraphrasing Will Rogers

• "What was offered for dinner?"
  "There was a selection: fish or steak."
  "Ah, yes. I had the lasagna."
  

  - Dr. Rumack and Elaine, movie, "Airplane!"

Also-

• Jon: "Most of the Earth's surface is covered by water."
  Garfield: "Who cares? How much of it is covered by lasagna?"

See also

• Lazanki

External links

• Lasagne recipe
• Lasagna Bologna style, step-by-step recipe
• BBC News - "Britain lays claim to lasagne"
• Italian Lasagna recipe
• Cooking For Engineers: Meat Lasagna - recipe for American Italian Meat Lasagna with step-by-step photographs and layering diagrams
• Lasagna recipe - easy lasagna recipe