Here is the promised lasagna which I photographed in Italy while the mother (Laura) of my sister-in-law (Sabrina) made the dough and assembled the dish. In the end, Sabrina and her daughter, Sofia all joined in and you will see the three generations working together in the photos. It was a symphony of co-ordination and much discussion, which is integral to any Italian endeavour.
Laura had already made the ragu sauce and white sauce and they were sitting nearby awaiting their moment. Then she set to work. She placed a lump of cooked silver-beet (but you could use spinach) in a mini food processor with an egg and whizzed it.
Once it was blended, Laura placed it into a well of flour and added several eggs, then initially mixed it with a spoon, before getting her hands involved.
The dough was completed and then came the rolling out.
Laura had a great way of turning the dough when it got too large to handle easily. She would roll it onto the rolling pin, turn the rolling pin and then roll it out again. So simple and yet if you don’t think of the solution, you could get yourself into strife with such a large disc of dough.
Next the rolled out dough was cut into pieces – no need to be too precise. Then each piece was dunked into boiling water and straight out again to be placed in ice water. This makes it malleable but mustn’t be boiled any longer or it will become tough.
A white tablecloth was laid out and the wet rolled dough placed on it to drain.
The ragu sauce was added to the white sauce and Sofia stirred it.
A whole basin of freshly grated cheese was mixed into the ragu and white sauce mixture. Sabrina stepped in to help as Sofia’s arm tired. Then scoopfuls of the mixture were ladled into an oven dish.
A few layers of draining rolled out dough were placed on top of the sauces and the layers repeated until the dough and sauces were finished. Then extra cheese was sprinkled on top.
I just loved watching the three generations working together and this was the only photo in which I was allowed to show Laura’s gorgeous face. She was a shy delight all the way through the process and so passionate about the craft of cooking. And just look at the expression of bliss on Sofia’s wee face. She is already learning to cook in her grandmother’s kitchen. Her mother, Sabrina, is a fantastic cook as well.
Here is the finished lasagna coming out of the oven, looking all toasty brown and delectable.
And here is part of the family eating the lasagna. That is Sabrina sitting next to her daughter, Sofia.
This was such an informative, fun day and what a wonderful meal we had. I have never eaten lasagna quite like this before.
Yum! Nothing like a home-cooked lasagna with such beautiful ragu’! It should have been really delicious from how it looks like. I hope you had a fun trip!
It was a fun trip, Rowena, but over all too soon. Lasagna done well takes a while but is totally worth it.
Suzanne
What a wonderful experience! We’ve made fresh pasta lasagne but when we cooked it in the oven the pasta went all gooey. I’m going to give your method a go! Thanks so much for sharing!
Gooey is not good. This was soft but not gooey and absolutely delicious.
Suzanne
How incredible, gorgeous photos! I’ve dined at an Italian restaurant in Northern California owned by a chef from Bologna (Biba Caggiano). The lasagna is a specialty – 10 layers of silky pasta!
Sounds like a great restaurant and yes, it is silky when done correctly.
Suzanne
I’m so glad you shared this. How interesting. I need to get myself one of those rolling pins. What an interesting way to make the pasta. I would have thought it would have gone through a pasta maker for sure. Love how silverbeet was added. And I’ve never added the white sauce to the ragu. Another interesting technique. Just love how all the generations are involved. Italians are such wonderful family people xx
The family atmosphere is so electric – they never stop talking while they work. Yes, I was surprised when the ragu was added to the white sauce too, but why not? That way you get all the flavours in each mouthful.
That is a massive rolling pin. Where would you keep it? LOL.
Suzanne
Suzanne: thank you for sharing a wonderful family experience with us! No, have never had lasagna quite this way: but then, I don’t think these very special family recipes surface to all and sundry too often 🙂 !
You’re welcome, Eha. This is definitely a special family recipe and I was privileged to be able to photograph the making of it.
Suzanne
It’s as if you shared this post knowing that I’ve been meaning to make my first attempt at spinach lasagne from scratch. Thank you for sharing the images of family and tradition and of course, that beautiful pasta. I will be looking to this post for guidance as I make my first attempt, very soon! Thank you, Suzanne. 🙂
I am psychic I guess, Jean. Good luck with making the dish. It’s worth the time and effort.
Suzanne
Such great photos! I felt like I was actually there. I’ve never rolled pasta by hand – I’ve always used a machine (I’m a wimp, I know). I really need to learn how to do that. Great idea to add the cheese to the ragu – I usually just sprinkle it on each layer. This is much easier! Excellent post – thanks so much.
But also adding the ragu to the white sauce was a first for me. It does streamline it considerably to have everything in one saucepan.
Suzanne
Food and family…it doesn’t get much better than that. 🙂 The photos of rolled out pasta dough are amazing!! Laura makes it look so easy…I’m sure I’d be in the corner sobbing if I attempted something of this caliber. 😀
Love the new look too! xo
Thanks, Valerie. Laura made it look so easy because she’s made it heaps of time before but I don’t for a moment think dealing with that big disc of dough would be easy. I’d probably be in the corner too.
Suzanne
How fun, thanks for sharing these moments. I think I fell in love with the lasagna when I saw that big basin of cheese !
It was fun and I was amazed at the big bowl of cheese but then again a lot of things amazed me during the afternoon.
Suzanne
The best lasagna I ever made was with homemade pasta…but your whole experience was way more than that! Thanks for sharing your family with us…what a pleasure it must have been to watch the process with 3 generations. A memory to treasure.
It was a special occasion, Liz and that’s why I took more than 300 photos. It was a mission sorting through them to get the story told fluidly.
Suzanne
From all your post you have published about your trip to Italy I assume you had a blast. I love Italy too. However, you showed pictures of Italy in a way I have never seen it before. I especially love the pictures of Mother Laura making the lasagna. It reminds me of my Grandmother cooking with me in Germany. Great job Suzanne.
We had a great time and the most precious were the times spent with Adriano’s family. I am sure you have many wonderful memories of your grandmother. They leave a great mark on our lives.
Suzanne
Lasagna looks great but also it had to be so much fun to cook with your family.
It was a great afternoon and we went to a food street event afterwards too. Great fun.
Suzanne
Nonna is my hero! Nobody makes lasagna like this anymore here in North America. I bet that it tastes like no other lasagna you’ve ever had. I believe you! I’m definitely bookmarking this for future reference.
She’s my hero too – so dedicated to cooking the way it should be done. It was a completely different dish to what I had tasted before.
Suzanne
I absolutely adore this beautiful post. Yes, the lasagna is spectacular, but the 3 generations working together is where the true beauty is. Thank you for bringing me back to fond memories of my childhood in my Italian family!
The generations working together is something to be cherished and it happens too seldom in our fast and furious societies.
Suzanne
What an amazing lasagne and a wonderful family tradition of everyone helping to make it. Beautifully documented in photos too.
Thanks, Ali. Italy is all about tradition and keeping it alive.
Suzanne
We often get together as an Italian family and cook all together. It is the same with Tomato Sauce making day. There is something wonderful about everyone getting together and cooking a meal. I love the spinach lasagna sheets!
There is something about getting together as a family to cook that reminds me of that great book and film, Like Water for Chocolate. I wonder if our emotions do end up in our food.
Suzanne
I just love this! What gorgeous photos, and what a beautiful thing you’ve captured. Wow. That lasagna looks out of this world as well.
It was a great event to capture. I wish I’d got more.
Suzanne
What kind of white sauce?
It was a bechamel sauce with butter, flour and milk.