Fall’s Favorite Comfort Food: From Kitchen Tables to Travel Destinations

An English frozen meals manufacturer claims to have created lasagne with a unique selling point. Cook Food’s new product is aimed at diners looking to reduce their environmental impact. 

Its Recipes For Change Lasagne Al Forno “has a 27% smaller carbon footprint per portion,” reports food news site, The Grocer. “Made using regenerative farmed beef, from new supplier Grassroots, the new product has a smaller amount of beef,” reads the post. The substitute for less meat: more lentils and vegetables. 

A Modern Version of America’s Favorite

It isn’t only the carbon footprint that is lower than that of its “classic Al Forno” product. The product webpage explains how there is “8g less fat and 75 fewer calories compared to a portion (365g) of (standard) Lasagne al Forno.”  

In any case, this comfort food ranks as America’s favorite Italian dish, according to the latest YouGov data. Lasagne sits atop stiff opposition; the other members of the Italian top-five are:

• Ravioli;
• Spaghetti with meatballs;
• Pasta with tomato sauce;
• Fettuccine Alfredo. 

Counting Calories

Few Italian food lovers would argue against lasagne, and there is no shortage of recipes available online. However, if we deconstruct a portion of classic lasagne, the calories can mount up.

Nutrition platform Nutritionix lists a typical portion of 1.5 cups at 602 calories, which is arguably a small portion for most appetites. However, when this recipe gets into some hands, the calories soon stack up. 

The “One-Million Calorie” Lasagne

To illustrate the point, a group of YouTube food nerds took lasagne to a new level of extravagance. Members of the channel, Epic Meal Time, claimed they made a one-million-calorie lasagne. This mega meal consisted of the following ingredients: 

• 120 packs of bacon;
• 60 boxes of duck fat;
• 100 lbs of ground pork;
• 16 bottles of rose sauce;
• 15 bricks of lard;
• 10 cartons of cream;
• Five bricks of butter;
• Eight wheels of brie.

Clearly, this is not a recipe for the faint-hearted. The outcome is something to behold: a lasagne on steroids, stacked 30 inches high. Naturally, those of a more relaxed nature prefer something more classic, though even that might be too heavy. Therefore, why not give the lasagne a lighter makeover?

Less Is More

There are millions of healthy lasagne recipes scattered across the Internet waiting to be found, such as one version from RecipeIdeaShop. This recipe comes with high protein and low carb content so that you can leave any guilt at the dinner table. 

Using lean beef instead of fatty pork saves on the calories, while omitting the heavy, calorific bechamel sauce layer. Instead, this method substitutes the white sauce for cottage cheese and mozzarella. 

A Carbohydrate-Free Lasagne

There are other angles one can take with this calorie-saving ethos. The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has long been strong on its food programming. One show that became popular in the new millennium is The Hairy Bikers, featuring two affable biker buddies and lifelong foodies. 

Featuring best friends Simon King and the late David Myers, the show was a hit with all demographics. In one show, called How to Love Food and Lose Weight, they dedicated themselves to healthier eating. In this show, they concocted a “Skinny Beef Lasagne” recipe. 

Instead of using pasta noodles or sheets, they used blanched leek leaves, making the recipe almost free of carbohydrates. This rendition does use bechamel layers and white flour for thickening the meat sauce. However, one can substitute layers of ricotta and Parmesan cheese in its place for a low-carb lasagne that doesn’t compromise on taste or texture.  

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Adapting to the Seasons

Moreover, lasagne is one of those dishes that can be easily adapted to different ingredients, making a seasonal approach possible. It’s hard to beat an original recipe, but Serious Eats has compiled a list of alternatives, including:

• Lasagne Napoletana, made with sausage, smoked cheese, and meatballs;
• Spinach and ricotta lasagne;
• Mushroom lasagne;
• Squash lasagne;
• Brussels sprout and mushroom lasagne;
• Zucchini, eggplant, and tomato lasagne;
• Polenta lasagne with mushroom ragu.

During the summer months, one might think lasagne is too heavy for the hot weather, though these ideas show a lighter side. Of course, there are other philosophies for lasagne, not least those of the opulent variety. 

The World’s Greatest Lasagne Destinations

Tasting Table published its quest to find the most expensive lasagne ever sold, and the results may shock most. The winner: the “Diamond and Gold” lasagne served at the now-defunct Portofino restaurant in Las Vegas’s Mirage Casino. 

This concoction would set guests back $100 per slice, which is bordering on reasonable, considering its ingredients. It wasn’t just the gold leaf, the truffles, and the Iberico Spanish pata negra jamón: each lasagne was made solely with ground Kobe beef. 

Back to the Roots

Bologna, Italy, is the birthplace of lasagne alla Bolognese, so for the serious lasagne lover, it offers the best place to try it. TasteAtlas puts several restaurants ahead of the pack, both on a global and Italian scale. 

Its top-three eateries include Trattoria Anna Maria, All’Osteria Bottega, and Trattoria della Gigina — all in Bologna. Meanwhile, Rome, Italy, has some of the world’s best Italian restaurants. Yelp lists Sapori e Delizie as a must-try for lasagne.

New York Wins Any Lasagne Battle

For American travelers, New York City’s long Italian heritage means The Big Apple remains the clear leader in any lasagna battle. Piccola Cucina Osteria in New York City gets the TripAdvisor nod, though the upper echelon of food journalism opts for Rolo’s wood-fired lasagne.

In a recent article, Bon Appétit interviewed Chef de Cuisine Taylor Falco, who made his lasagne creation in front of the camera. His process is exhaustive: the meat sauce features nutmeg, wine, brandy, and a mirepoix added for depth. An 18-month-aged Parmesan tops layers of silky bechamel and the meat sauce, all encased in fresh spinach pasta sheets. 

The difference with these lasagnes is their shape: they are like lasagne calzones, cooked quickly in a smoky-hot stone oven so they retain a crispy, charred exterior. Finally, fresh Parmesan, olive oil, and freshly ground nutmeg. 

A Lasagne Roadtrip

Of course, other cities have great lasagne options: Chicago, for instance, has Volare Ristorante Italiano. Miriam Carey of LoveFood compiled a 2024 list of other towns worth mentioning. 

Each state has at least one good lasagne to try, like Arizona, where Caruso’s has been serving lasagne al forno since 1938. Meanwhile, still going strong since the ‘60s, with a Neapolitan-style lasagne, is Villa di Roma in Philadelphia. 

There are always good reasons for a road trip; now lasagne fans have another reason to cross state lines and try something new. Thankfully, America’s favorite Italian meal is never too far away.