Lasagna is one of the oldest forms of pasta recorded. It probably corresponds to the Latin "Lagana" (which in turn was derived from the Greek "laganon": large, flat sheet of pasta cut into strips) and it began to be known as "Lasagna" probably after the year 1000 AD. The first traces of the widespread use of the term "Lasagna" can be found in the works of the most renowned 12th century Italian poets. "Granel di pepe vince / per virtù la lasagna", (a peppercorn beats lasagna for virtue) states Jacopone da Todi. Cecco Angiolieri,on the other hand, warns his readers, "chi de l'altrui farina fa lasagne / il su' castello non ha ne muro ne fosso" (He who makes lasagna with another's flour / his castle will have no walls or moat).
Lasagna all'uovo con spinaci, a tasty variation of the classic Lasagna all'uovo, is made with the addition of tender spinach leaves to produce fragrant, imaginative dishes packed with flavour.
It has long been one of the most well-known and popular types of pasta in Italian cooking and the simplest and most popular recipe calls for a ragù, béchamel and parmesan whereas mozzarella has also been introduced more recently.
Delicious "white" versions are also quite commonplace with sauces made from mushrooms and vegetables.
Available in 500g pack.s
Tagliatelle are consumed all over Italy and are part of the long, flat pasta family.
They originate from the northern regions of Italy, especially in the culinary traditional in the Emilia Romagna region.
That Tagliatelle originated in Emilia Romagna is demonstrated by their presence in popular sayings and colloquial expressions used by the people from this region. An example of how Tagliatelle are profoundly rooted in Emilia Romagna is "Science in the Kitchen and the Art of Eating well" by Pellegrino Artusi: "Conti corti e tagliatelle lunghe" (literally, short bills and long tagliatelle) is a wise saying from Bologna because long bills frighten the poor husbands and short tagliatelle demonstrate the inexperience of the person made them and served them as if they were left-overs."
Their natural versatility makes them delicious with all types of condiments. They are excellent for first courses or in oven-baked dishes, perfect with fish or shell-fish based sauces, or with butter or white sauces made from soft cheeses and cream with the addition of curry or saffron.
Available in 250g packs