Authentic Italian Lasagna Recipe: North and South Variant

Lasagna is probably the most famous Italian dish, although there are so many fantastic culinary offerings from this country! As with most Italian culinary delights, the history of this dish is a little murky. What is known is that lasagna as we know it today, first appeared in the Middle Ages.

Naturally, it has evolved into the delicious dish we all enjoy today. However, did you know that the authentic Italian lasagna recipe is different in the north and south of the country?

What is The Difference Between Northern and Southern Italian Lasagna?

There’s a lot of common ground in Italian cooking. Of course, there are also key differences. These are evident in any Italia lasagna Bolognese recipe. The key difference between North and South is that Italians like to use local ingredients. The produce available in the north is different to the south. For example, olive oil is used in virtually all southern Italian cooking, while the north uses both butter and olive oil. The north also tends to rely on rice and polenta for starch, alongside pasta. The North simply uses pasta and bread.

Interestingly, cheese in the north is generally made with cows' milk and in the south with goat’s milk. However, authentic parmesan cheese is popular in the north and south. Perhaps the key difference between the North and South when it comes to an Italian lasagna recipe is that the South tends to have spicier dishes. After all, it’s warmer and the climate is perfect for growing chili peppers.

It’s also worth noting that a genuine Italian lasagna recipe uses fresh pasta. In the north pasta is made with egg, in the south, it’s made with durum wheat and water.

Italian Lasagna Recipe From Italy – North vs South

A traditional Italian lasagna Bolognese recipe in the north would look like this:

• Lasagna sheets – preferably homemade
  
  

For the cheese filling:

• Mozzarella cheese
• Parmesan cheese
• Freshly chopped parsley
  
  

For the white sauce:

• Butter
• Flour
• Salt
• Nutmeg
• Cream
• Milk

Meat sauce:

• Crumbled Italian sausage
• Chopped chicken breast
• Sweet onion
• Garlic
• Red wine
• Water
• Tomato paste
• Celery
• Carrots
• Italian seasoning
  
  

In contrast, an authentic Italian lasagna recipe from the south would look like this:

• lasagna sheets – still preferably homemade
  
  

For the meat sauce:

• olive oil
• garlic
• ground beef
• ground Italian sausage
• onions
• tomatoes
• parsley
  
  

For the white sauce:

• ricotta cheese
• Parmesan cheese
• Mozzarella cheese
• Eggs
• Parsley
• Salt and pepper to taste
  
  

While there are similarities between the traditional lasagna recipe in Italian north and south, you can instantly see that the northern Italian lasagna recipe from Italy has richer ingredients. The addition of chicken instead of ground beef in the meat sauce and red wine will significantly alter the flavour. The north also adds additional vegetables, helping to create a unique lasagna. It’s one of the reasons debates over northern and southern Italian foods are so heated. They are the same, and yet so different.

Summing Up

While these are the traditional northern and southern Italian lasagna recipes, there are also many variants. Some have been created in Italy, others around the world. This is a dish you can expect to find almost anywhere. All that means is you have a lot of different lasagnas to try before you find the one you like the most. The good news is you can have a lot of fun trying them all, especially if you involve your friends.