Lasagne and what ?

I like to serve a tomato salad, vine tomatoes with finely sliced red onions and drizzled with a good quality olive oil and balsamic vinegar. A bowl of crisp little gem lettuce to go with the tomatoes.

A tricolore salad? Mozarella, avocado and tomatoes. or just a lovely tomato salad with basil.

I find those pub menus quite horrendous - the ones that have lasagne with chips and garlic bread! Talk about a carb overload. The lasagne itself is all the carb anyone needs on that plate.

A crispy salad, with dressing and a few crispy chips. Lasagna can be a soft sort of meal, so something crispy is a good contrast in texture. Crusty bread too maybe?

Lucca

Yes, but I’d like an interesting one !

How about crisp cos lettuce, sundried tomatoes and snow peas (mangetout?) with a balsamic dressing

or

Lettuce, roasted pumpkin, roasted beetroot and either feta or cream cheese cubed with dressing

or

Mixed lettuce, variety of different coloured cherry tomatoes, largish cubes of baguettes rubbed with garlic and oil and toasted then tossed through. Balsamic dressing.

Definitely salad. A nice Greek one with feta and olives, tomatoes and lettuce. I also put a few red onion rings in and an olive oil dressing, whatever flavour you want ( garlic for me but could use lemon juice and black pepper)

Agree a good salad, I’ve been putting pomegranate seeds and toasted mixed seeds in mine that give it a natural crunch. Simple dressing, two tablespoons of olive oil, one teaspoon each of Dijon mustard, runny honey and white or red wine vinegar. This is enough for two, so you can increase as needed.

I await the widespread condemnation that will no doubt follow, but… a few chips

kittylester

I'm going to try it too!! One of my most requested pasta sauces is a sausage meat and red wine one. It is a recipe by an Italian chef whose name escapes me now. I use Sainsbury's TTD Cumberland sausages, squeezed.

I have a very old recipe for pasta (penne, macaroni, conchiglie,farfalle whatever) with sausage meat grated carrot and passata.

When my son makes lasagne he also includes sausagemeat. He has an Italian friend whose mother always did this. Delicious. Serve with a green salad.

I never make bechanmel for lasagne either. I slosh on creme fraiche thinned down with a bit of milk, and a small amount of grated cheese for the layers and more grated cheese for the top layer.

I will give this recipe a try, looks good and I'm interested to see the creme fraiche goes in the filling.

Salads - I'd add a sharp fruit to a green salad e.g. clementines, a nice foil for the rich lasagne. Halved small clementines in a salad are so pretty. Decorative and edible!

Sausage meat is great for lasagne or minced pork.
I always add a few red lentils to the ragu.

Thank you. I’ll try it too Lucca.
Whatever you serve with it have a great time with your friends tonight. ?????

BTW, I never bother to make bechamel for lasagna. I just use cornflower, with salt, pepper, herbs - it works just as well- much easier and quicker, and less calories too. Win, win.

I'm going to try it too!! One of my most requested pasta sauces is a sausage meat and red wine one. It is a recipe by an Italian chef whose name escapes me now. I use Sainsbury's TTD Cumberland sausages, squeezed.

dragonfly46

I don't see why it would be any more fatty than mince if you used good quality sausage meat.
I shall certainly try it as it looks lovely.

Actually I’ve found it less so if anything. I still make standard lasagne occasionally though.

Let me know what you think !

Salad,cheese bread,i prefer garlic myself and of course baby beets.

I don't see why it would be any more fatty than mince if you used good quality sausage meat.
I shall certainly try it as it looks lovely.

Deedaa

The recipe looks ok although I would use Italian sausages which taste quite different. In Italy the salad would be served as a separate course but no one's going to care in this country. Chianti or Valpolicella or if you are pushing the boat out, a good Barolo or Amarone.

Not sure it needs Italian sausage, as there a lot of other flavours going on
I’d like to see if it worked with veggie sausagemeant for my DIL.

Ellianne

So, now for the important bit. Which wine Lucca?

Oh don’t! I’m not supposed to drink wine anymore either !!
I shall leave that decision to the bloke, he can bring something suitable. … maybe a Valpolicella?

The recipe looks ok although I would use Italian sausages which taste quite different. In Italy the salad would be served as a separate course but no one's going to care in this country. Chianti or Valpolicella or if you are pushing the boat out, a good Barolo or Amarone.

Puzzler61

Please add a link for the recipe Lucca .

I did! But here it is again
www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/express_lasagne_51375

A green salad with cucumber and other crunchy vegetables like sugar snap peas.
I often mix fresh herbs with a green salad but there may be plenty of herbs in the lasagne.

I'm sorry, but I must insist on just one piece of garlic bread!

Has to be a good Chianti doesn’t it? ? ??

So, now for the important bit. Which wine Lucca?

Please add a link for the recipe Lucca .