If you're using homemade pasta for a lasagna, do you need to boil the pasta sheets first?

Question

making a birthday dinner tonight and wondering if i need to boil the homemade (wheat) pasta before i use it in the lasagna. thanks!

Answer 1

Yes, absolutely - give it the usual 8 minutes.

Answer 2

I say yes, but here is a reciepe that you don't have to worry about noodles and is good for you.

"South Beach" Lasagna

1 onion - chopped
2 cloves garlic - minced
1 lb lean hamburger
1 can commercial no added sugar spaghetti sauce
2 cups ricotta or cottage cheese
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
1 T dried parsley flakes
1 t salt
1 1/2 t dried oregano leaves
1 package frozen spinach - thawed and drained
2 cups shredded low-fat mozzarella cheese
2 cups shredded low-fat cheddar cheese

1. Prepare a 13" X 9" pan with olive oil or "Pam"
2. Cook and stir onion, garlic and hamburger until hamburger is brown
3. Add spaghetti sauce
4. While hamburger is cooking, combine in bowl ricotta cheese, parmesan cheese, parsley, salt, oregano, and spinach
5. Layer 1/3 each sauce, mozzarella cheese, cheddar cheese, and ricotta cheese mixture, reserving 1/2 cup of sauce
6. Repeat 2 times
7. Top with reserved sauce
8. Sprinkle with additional parmesan cheese
9. Cook in a 350 oven for 30 minutes or until cheese is melted
10. Let stand 15 minutes before serving

Don't hesitate to use other veggies - broccoli, squash, etc. Also, some have used eggplant for the noodle layers. Just lightly sauté thin slices in olive oil and layer in pan.

Makes 8-10 servings. This is good for Phase 1, 2 & 3.

Answer 3

Not really. If you like your lasagna "saucy" or with alot of moist filling (say like veggies) then you don't need to boil. They will take in moisture from those elements.
If it's just plain, like, cheese or meat, then you may want to boil them for no more than about 3-4 minutes..just so it's not too tough when it comes out.
It's refreshing to see that someone else still makes lasagna homemade!

Answer 4

I thought no because they are already soft. but I guess the answer is yes. I would just boil a couple. check em every minute to see how they are doing and once you know how long or if you need to then boil the rest.

Answer 5

I boil because if you dont your lasagna will be dry . The pasta will absorb all the moisture!!

Answer 6

Yes

Answer 7

No Way!! I never boil the store bought ones either, the juice from the other ingredients should soften it up just right and addmore flavor AND hold it together better.

Answer 8

No, they will cook in the sauce. You only need to cook dry lasagna noodles. If you cook first they will fall apart and be mushy (it doesn't make a good lasagna)

Answer 9

yup.... you need to boil it for 10 minutes and then just see if u need to put a pinch of salt in the boiled pasta.... best of luck for your dinner! :)

Answer 10

Barilla makes some that doesnt need to be boiled