A chef has revealed one unsual switch that they claim will make lasagne taste even better. The popular Italian dish, loved by Brits, can be bought ready-made or cooked easily using store-brought ingredients. Though many home cooks do enjoy taking out the time to prepare the dish using mainly or solely home-made ingredients.
Lasagne is typically made from minced meat, vegetables, tomato sauce, cheese, bechamel sauce and lasagne sheets, with the meat being a staple for most people’s recipes. However, the chef has revealed switching it out for this one surprising ingredient could unlock a whole new flavour to the dish.
According to Daily Meal, home cooks should switch out their minced meat for quinoa, seeds from a flowering plant in the amaranth family. The protein rich ingredient, like meat, contains all nine essential amino acids that our bodies need to function making it a delicious swap that still contains all the important nutrients.
It is crucial that quinoa is cooked correctly so that it can provide the new and exciting flavours that home cooks desperately need to try out.
Daily Meal writes: “To use this ingredient in lasagne, it’s important to learn how to cook quinoa properly. Poorly cooked quinoa can be slightly bitter and toothsome.
“But when rinsed and gently simmered, quinoa develops a nutty flavour, and a fluffy, absorbent texture that acts like a chameleon, soaking up everything around it.”
For those who would like to make the switch but not sure how, the chef also revealed exactly how they like to make their quinoa for lasagne, so there is no need to worry if you are unfamiliar with the ingredient or how to cook it.
It added: “I cook it in vegetable stock flavoured with Italian seasoning, garlic power, onion powder, and a hint of freshly grated nutmeg. Once finished, I stir in a little bit of tomato sauce before layering it over the lasagne noodles.”
It couldn’t be more simple. Not only is it delicious but it is also a great way to transform lasagne into a “vegetarian delight” or just enjoy a new twist.