Description
Hearty shrimp lasagna with white sauce enriches Italian comfort classics with ocean-inspired elegance. Layers of delicate seafood, creamy béchamel, and melted cheese create a memorable Mediterranean-style dining experience for home cooks.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (454 g) shrimp, peeled, deveined, and chopped
- 3 cups whole milk (or half-and-half for extra richness)
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 egg
- 3 tbsps unsalted butter
- 3 tbsps all-purpose flour
- 1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley (for garnish)
- 9–12 lasagna noodles (regular or oven-ready)
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ cup white wine (or chicken broth)
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp Italian seasoning
- ¼ tsp red pepper flakes (optional, for spice)
- ¼ tsp nutmeg (optional, for depth)
Instructions
- Noodle Preparation: Immerse lasagna noodles in boiling salted water until perfectly tender, then drain and set aside, keeping them separated for layering.
- Shrimp Infusion: In a skillet, sauté garlic in olive oil, then add shrimp and season with Italian herbs, red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper. Deglaze with white wine, allowing flavors to intensify before cooling slightly.
- Ricotta Fusion: Blend ricotta with egg and Parmesan, gently incorporating the seasoned shrimp mixture to create a luxurious, textured filling.
- Bechamel Crafting: Develop a silky white sauce by whisking butter and flour into a smooth roux, gradually introducing milk while stirring. Enhance with nutmeg, salt, and pepper, then fold in mozzarella until creamy.
- Layering Technique: Grease a baking dish and spread a thin white sauce base. Construct alternating layers of noodles, shrimp-ricotta mixture, and sauce, ensuring each level is generously and evenly covered.
- Cheese Crowning: Top the final layer with a lavish sprinkle of mozzarella and Parmesan, creating a golden, bubbling surface.
- Baking Perfection: Bake covered with foil until heated through, then uncover to achieve a beautifully bronzed top. Rest the lasagna briefly before serving, garnishing with fresh parsley for an elegant finish.
Notes
- Select High-Quality Shrimp: Choose fresh, deveined shrimp with firm texture and mild ocean scent to guarantee superior flavor and delicate taste.
- Control Moisture Balance: Drain shrimp thoroughly after cooking to prevent excess liquid from making lasagna layers soggy and compromising structural integrity.
- Prevent Cheese Separation: Temper ricotta mixture with egg before adding shrimp, ensuring smooth binding and preventing grainy or curdled texture during baking.
- Customize Spice Levels: Adjust red pepper flakes quantity based on personal heat tolerance, allowing flexible seasoning without overwhelming seafood’s delicate profile.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 150 mg