Carasau Bread Lasagna

17/11/2023

Carasau bread lasagna is a delicious variant of the traditional lasagna using the typical Sardinian bread instead of pasta. Here’s how to prepare it:

Ingredients

250 g of carasau bread
600 ml of tomato puree
250 g of fresh ricotta
300 g of mozzarella
100 g of grated Parmesan cheese
200 g of sausage or minced meat
1 small onion
Extra virgin olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste
Fresh basil to taste
(Optional) Bechamel sauce if you prefer a richer version

Preparation

Sauce preparation: Start by preparing a simple tomato sauce. Finely chop the onion and sauté it in a pan with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil. Add the crumbled sausage or minced meat and let it brown until fully cooked. Pour in the tomato puree, add salt, pepper, and some torn basil leaves. Cook for about 20 minutes until you get a thick sauce.
Preparation of the carasau bread: Quickly dip each sheet of carasau bread in cold water to make it softer and more malleable and then place it on a cloth to slightly dry off.
Lasagna assembly: Oil the bottom of a baking dish with a little oil and start assembling the lasagna by alternating layers of carasau bread, tomato sauce, drained ricotta or diluted with a little milk to make it creamier, diced mozzarella, and a sprinkle of Parmesan. Repeat the layers until all the ingredients are used up, ending with a final layer of carasau bread topped with sauce and a generous sprinkle of Parmesan.
Baking: Preheat the oven to 200 °C. Bake the dish for about 20-25 minutes, until the surface of the lasagna is golden and crispy.
Resting and serving: Let the lasagna rest for a few minutes before serving. This will allow the layers to blend better and will help in cutting the lasagna more easily.

Curiosity

Carasau bread is also called “music paper” because of its extraordinary thinness that makes it almost resemble a sheet of paper. Its crispness and lightness make it perfect for an unusual take on lasagna, and I suggest you experiment with other variations of layers, perhaps adding grilled vegetables or replacing the sausage with fish for an even more original touch.