The Noodle Project: Lasagna

Simmer

Enjoy as Merrill Warren, dedicated lasagna lover, and I talk about her history with lasagna, learn together how to make lasagna noodles from scratch, and test out a new twist on the lasagna making method. Welcome to the third episode of the Noodle Project. Today I’m with my friend Merrill, and we’re venturing back to Italy to learn how to make lasagna noodles. I asked Merrill to give me five words that reminded her of lasagna, and she said: home, mom, burnt edges, and family. I think a lot of us can relate. Lasagna is a common household dish in many American families, so it’s not surprising that Merrill has such strong ties to it. The origins of lasagna are largely contested, with some claiming that it originated in Great Britain in the 14th century, while others trace the word “lasagna” from the Greek word “laganon” which they consider the first known form of pasta in Ancient Greece. Laganon was similar to lasagna only in that it was a layered pasta dish, and it didn’t use many of the traditional italian ingredients that we usually associate with lasagna, such as tomatoes. Regardless of who originally created it, it has since become a global dish. I asked Merrill what is typically in her mom’s lasagna. After discussing Merrill's family ties to lasagna, we set out to make the noodles for our own lasagna. Today though, I had a trick up my sleeve: grilled lasagna. We laid out all the layering ingredients on the kitchen table and formed a circular assembly system, moving around the table in circles together. We grilled each lasagna packet on a medium-hot grill for ten minutes, then topped with ricotta and a mixture of chopped tomato and parsley. Links How to make lasagna noodles Grilled lasagna Sources: https://mybravoblog.wordpress.com/2015/07/22/the-history-of-lasagna/ http://plaza.ufl.edu/amrauwc/history.htmlhttps://www.thepauperedchef.com/article/the-disputed-origins-of-lasagna http://www.wikiwand.com/en/Italian_Eritrean_cuisinehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asmara Music: http://www.purple-planet.com http://www.pond5.com Download Episode