Mexican Lasagna Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is Mexican lasagna made of? ›

Mexican Lasagna is a layered Tex-Mex Casserole that's easy to make with layers of seasoned ground beef, black beans, corn, tortillas and plenty of melty cheese, all baked together until bubbly and delicious. A flavorful dinner to feed a crowd, and it takes just minutes to put together!

It's called a Mexican "lasagna" because it's layered like its distant Italian cousin (very distant). Only in true southwestern style, we are using corn tortillas in place of lasagna noodles, salsa instead of sauce, beans in place of béchamel, and mild cheddar and jack instead of ricotta and Parmesan.

Lasagna originated in Italy during the Middle Ages.

Start by spreading a layer of your tomato-based sauce (either a plain tomato sauce or your pre-made ragù) on the bottom of your dish. Next, add a single layer of pasta sheets. Then, add a layer of white sauce, followed by another single layer of pasta sheets.

Layer with 3 noodles, provolone cheese, 2 cups of cottage cheese mixture, 1 cup of mozzarella, three noodles, 2 cups of meat sauce, remaining cottage cheese mixture and 1 cup of mozzarella. Top with remaining noodles, meat sauce and mozzarella (dish will be full). Cover and bake at 375°F for 50 minutes.

The first version of a Mexican casserole seems to have been the muk-bil (literally, “to put in the ground”). Made by the Mayans on the Yucatan Peninsula since pre-Hispanic times, it is the King Kong of tamales.

Replacing traditional ricotta cheese with queso fresco gives this casserole a firm, hearty texture. I used La VaquitaⓇ Queso Fresco, a local Texas brand in this recipe. La Vaquita® was founded by Maria Castro in 1971. Castro began making the cheese from her Houston home shortly after immigrating from Mexico.

Begin Layering

After the initial sauce layer, add a layer of pasta sheets, ricotta mixture (or bechamel), sauce, and cheese. Then repeat the layers. Top the last layer of your lasagna with sauce and cheese. You can also alternate layers of sauce and ricotta cheese.

Storing and Reheating Mexican Lasagna

Allow the dish to cool, then store leftovers tightly covered or in an airtight container. Refrigerate for 2 to 3 days. Warm individual portions in the microwave. Or, place the dish back in the oven at 350°F for 15 minutes.

Lasagna first made is a grand entrance in Naples, Italy during the Middle Ages in the 14th century. Initially, this dish was reserved for special events and holidays. Ironically, this pleasure inducing food was introduced to Italians in the middle of the Black Plague.

What is the difference between lasagna and lasagne al forno? ›

What is the difference between lasagna and lasagne al forno? Unlike Americanized lasagna, this authentic lasagne al forno recipe is made without ricotta cheese. Instead, this recipe used homemade lasagne noodles and a creamy béchamel sauce.

lasagna, pasta dish of Italian origin, made with broad often ruffled noodles and a tomato or white sauce. Lasagna, in the singular, is a southern Italian variation of what northern Italians call lasagne, in the plural.

Reducing the sauce not only makes it thicker, but also concentrates the taste, giving it a more robust flavor. This ensures it will still stand out when layered with cheese, noodles, and more. To speed up reduction, you can use a wider, shallower pot or pan, or divide up a batch of sauce into multiple pans.

Line the bottom of the baking pan with 4 cooked lasagna noodles, overlapping them. Spread the ricotta mixture first then the meat sauce on top. Sprinkle grated mozzarella and top with another three noodles. Repeat layering the ricotta and meat sauce with the cheese.

Mexican Spaghetti Ingredients

Beef: I use 80/20. Onion: Use either a yellow or white onion. Taco Seasoning: I use mild so the dish is kid-friendly. Chilies: I like mild green chilies, again, to keep it kid-friendly.

Let's make Pastelón, a traditional Puerto Rican lasagna-style dish made with layers of fried sweet plantains, sofrito, ground beef picadillo, pimento olives, and mozzarella cheese. Often called a sweet plantain lasagna, this baked dish is the perfect combination of crispy, creamy, sweet and salty.

It is about lasagne, which is ubiquitous north of Rome. Note the difference in the last letter of the name. Lasagne is plural and refers to the noodles themselves, also plural. Lasagna is Italian American parlance and refers to the aforementioned cheesy composition, the dish in toto.