The tasty lasagna dish is one of the most popular recipes that use the lasagna noodle as a primary ingredient. The lasagna noodle has to be the number one thing on the list when shopping for ingredients, and because of its flat and rectangular shape, the noodle acts like a tray that carries the fillings of cheese, seasoning, meats, and vegetables.
Since the lasagna noodle is a staple for most recipes, especially the lasagne dish, its absence may cause a pause in the preparation process, which shouldn’t be the case.
I know the lasagna noodle is the ideal ingredient in Lasagna, but other ingredients can easily substitute it in many recipes. So keep reading to find out.
Lasagna Nutrition Facts
What is a Lasagna Noodle?
The lasagna noodle is an old kind of wide, flat, and rectangular; its taste is just like any regular pasta since it is made from a dough containing flour, water, eggs, and other extra ingredients.
The lasagna originated in Italy during the middle ages. The oldest writing about Lasagne was made known in 1282 in the Memorial Bolognesi; Lasagne was mentioned in a poem transcribed by a Bolognese notary. The recipe of Lasagne was seen in the early 14th century in the book of cookery (Liber de Coquina).
There are two types of lasagna noodles, the fresh kind that requires a pre-boiling before filling and baking then there is also the commercial type that doesn’t require a pre-boiling rather, more liquid sauces are added to aid it in getting soft quickly when baking.
Lasagna Noodles Used in Recipes
Lasagna noodles are a base ingredient in the popular dish known as Lasagne; this dish features lasagna noodles and has different variations from meat to fish and vegetables.
Most people feel the lasagna noodle should be used only when you want to make Lasagne which they usually placed as a Sunday dish. Still, there are other creative ways to use this noodle apart from making a lasagne or making a different and more creative kind of Lasagne. Some of them are also less time consuming; these recipes include:
- Skillet Chicken Lasagna
- Lasagna-Style Nachos
- Lasagne Rolls with Spinach, Mushrooms, and Onions
- Loaf Pan Lasagna for Two
- Caprese Lasagna Roll-Ups
- Short Rib and Dried Porcini Lasagne
- Fried Lasagna
- Shrimp Scampi Roll-Ups
- Keto Lasagna with Ground Beef Bolognese Sauce
- Butternut Squash and Swiss Chard Lasagne
- Mini Meatball Pasta Cups
- Lasagna Soup
- Buffalo Chicken Roll-Ups
- Easy Pesto Lasagna Rolls
- Grilled Summer Vegetable Lasagna
Substitutes for Lasagna Noodles
Lasagna noodle has been an ancient ingredient in culinary used mainly in preparing Lasagne, but this doesn’t limit it to just lasagne recipes as it is often incorporated in new, delicious, and creative recipes.
The lasagna is pasta primarily made with flour, and due to some dietary restrictions, most persons may not be able to consume it, hence the need for a substitute.
Also, apart from dietary preferences, many other reasons would prompt the need for a substitute; a common one would be unavailability. Well, the good news is they can all be solved with just the right substitute; these substitutes are what we will be discussing below. They include:
Zucchini
Believe it or not, zucchini would make a great tasty substitute for lasagna noodles, especially in Lasagne. It is a gluten-free, keto-friendly, and Paleo alternative for lasagna noodles, which holds up nicely in many recipes.
Most people may get worried about using this alternative in Lasagne because it could produce a watery result well, the trick is to slice the zucchini thin, so it doesn’t produce much water when baked, use bigger slices so you end up using less that would fit in your pan, roast the zucchini for about 15-20 minutes at 450 degrees, use less tomato sauce and thicken your tomato sauce with any thicker of your choice.
After the Lasagne is baked, let it cool for some minutes to absorb any extra liquid before serving.
Matzo Sheets
Matzo, also known as matzah or matzagnais, is a thin sheet made from wheat, rye, and barley usually used in making matzo lasagne. It is a type of Italian Jewish thin wheat pasta sheet popular in Italy and America.
It is not gluten-free, but there are still some gluten-free variations; matzo would be able to hold up ingredients in a lasagne recipe just like the lasagna noodle.
Corn Tortillas
Corn tortillas are a type of unleavened, thin flatbread made from hominy which is dried corn that has been treated to improve nutrition through a process known as nixtamalization.
Corn tortillas are used in many recipes, including Lasagne; it gives off a soft, almost taco-like casserole texture. There are several recipes you can find online that are extremely mouth-watering and easy to make; who knows, you might end up making one of them your favorite recipe.
Wide Egg Noodles
Wide egg noodle is short flat noodle made with eggs; they come in different sizes like wide, medium, and extra wide. This type of noodles pairs well in soups, side dishes, entrées, and oven bakes like Lasagne.
They can be pre-cooked and added just like lasagna noodles in Lasagne; they rarely clump together and give a similar texture to lasagna noodles.
For the best results, use the extra-wide sizes, they are not gluten-free, but they can act as a last-minute replacement for lasagna noodles.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can I make my keto-friendly lasagna sheet?
Yes, you can. You can always mix up dough with keto-friendly flour like almond flour and shape it into wide flat shapes that can be used in your lasagne recipe.
What’s the difference between lasagna noodles and the dish?
Lasagna noodle is the sheet used to hold different ingredient mixtures while the dish is called ‘lasagne,’ which is plural because it contains different layers of lasagna noodle.
Should I cook my Lasagne before baking?
Lasagna noodle does not necessarily need to be pre-boiled; you could easily wrap the pan with aluminum foil which would help it retain moisture and cook well. But if you must boil it, do so for a minute.
Conclusion
Lasagna noodle is a simple and easy pasta sheet used in several recipes; it is an essential ingredient in a typical lasagne recipe; they are easy to incorporate and easy to find in grocery shops.
However, lasagna noodles may not always be readily available or may not be the preferred choice for some people, which is why substitutes become important; I have carefully listed some of the best ingredients that can be used in place of lasagna noodles in many recipes, especially the lasagne recipe.