Lasagnetta with Tomato Sauce, Mozzarella, and Basil

To prepare a delicious lasagna, the first step is to focus on the dough. We start by mixing flour with a fresh egg, gradually adding warm water until we obtain a homogeneous and elastic dough. It is kneaded well for about 10-15 minutes until it becomes smooth and slightly sticky. After we finish kneading, we let the dough rest in a bowl covered with a damp towel, allowing it to relax and become easier to roll out.

After about 30 minutes of resting, the dough is ready to be rolled out. We divide the dough into four equal pieces and use a rolling pin to roll each piece into a thin sheet, about 2 mm thick. The sheets of dough will be cut into the desired sizes, usually rectangles or squares, depending on preferences.

To prepare them, we bring water to a boil in a large pot, adding a tablespoon of salt and a splash of olive oil. When the water boils, we blanch the lasagna sheets one by one, leaving them in the water for 30 seconds until they become slightly elastic. After removing them, we immediately rinse them in cold water to stop the cooking process and place them on a cloth napkin to dry.

For the filling, we prepare a flavorful tomato sauce, which we can make from fresh tomatoes or a can of tomatoes, adding sautéed garlic, onion, basil, salt, and pepper to taste. With each layer of lasagna, we put a spoonful of tomato sauce, a sheet of dough, slices of mozzarella, and optionally, a few fresh basil leaves. We continue to alternate the layers, ensuring that on the last layer we generously place tomato sauce and mozzarella on top.

After we have built the lasagna, we transfer it to a platter or a baking dish and place it in the preheated oven at 180 degrees Celsius. The baking time varies depending on the oven, but usually, 2-3 minutes are enough for the cheese to melt and form a golden and appetizing crust. After we take it out of the oven, we let the lasagna rest for a few minutes before cutting it, to allow the layers to stabilize.

Thus, we serve warm portions, sprinkled with a little fresh basil and, possibly, a splash of olive oil, ready to delight the taste buds of all guests! This lasagna recipe combines the fine texture of the dough sheets with the richness of the tomato sauce and the creaminess of the cheese, making each portion a true culinary pleasure.