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What Is Lasagna Pizza?

Erik J.J. Goserud
Erik J.J. Goserud

Lasagna pizza is a unique combination of two staples of the Italian diet. It may be served in a multitude of varieties but, typically speaking, consists of a traditional pizza base with lasagna pieces or ingredients as toppings. Both pizza and lasagna can vary based on style and personal preference of the chef, so lasagna pizza tends to vary as well.

In order understand what lasagna pizza is, it may be useful to examine the main ingredients as independents. The origins of pizza are somewhat of a mystery, with many different claims being made as to who should receive credit for inventing this delicious, pie-shaped treat. Both the Greeks and Romans had early versions of oil-dusted baked dough, with the characteristic cheese topping coming about in the late 1800s. The Italian contribution to the three main ingredients was tomatoes in the form of sauce, the other two being cheese and dough.

Ricotta is a main ingredient of lasagna.
Ricotta is a main ingredient of lasagna.

As legend has is it, King Ferdinand disguised himself as a commoner and flocked to the poor villages of Naples to try the dish. It had been banned from his royal court. Regardless of the validity of the story, few can argue, rich or poor, of the savory satiation pizza offers.

Like pizza, lasagna has a number of myths regarding its birth. The three main theories involve a 14th-century cookbook, the ancient Greeks, and a Latin word for "cooking pot." All three of these speculations agree, however, on the fact that lasagna is composed of pasta layers with finely grated cheese, meat, and sometimes vegetables filling the void between the sheets of dough.

Lasagna pizza makes a great late night snack.
Lasagna pizza makes a great late night snack.

The untypical merger of these two typical entrees is as cloudy as the origins of their components, likely the product of creative culinary connoisseurs. Pizza has long been used as a palate for the artistic chef, allowing freedom in the choosing of ingredients. This freedom has brought about a number of interesting creations similar to lasagna pizza. Among these are the supreme pizza, the Hawaiian pizza, and the meat-lover's pizza.

Typically, lasagna pizza will include pieces of layered pasta, meat, cheese, and a number of seasonings and vegetables. The cheese is usually fine, such as a ricotta, and the seasonings are generally of an Italian origin, including salt, pepper, and oregano in addition to garlic and basil. This unique dish may be enjoyed as an appetizer, main course, or even a late-night snack.

Discussion Comments

candyquilt

A great way to turn a regular pizza into a lasagna pizza is to add spaghetti sauce to the tomato sauce. It adds a great lasagna taste to the pizza. This is a very easy tip that I learned from my neighbor. The kids love this too. They ask me to make this almost every weekend.

turquoise

@stoneMason-- I don't think that there is one definition of a lasagna pizza. People make different types of pizzas and refer to it with this name.

For example, my friend made a great lasagna pizza that was more like a deep dish. It had a crust and tomato and cheese topping but the center was layers of pasta and fillings like spinach and more cheese. It wasn't like a typical pizza but it's obvious that this dish couldn't be called anything but lasagna pizza.

So I think that this term is a fairly flexible term.

stoneMason

When I think of lasagna pizza, I think of a thick crust pizza with lots of tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese and chunks of ground beef.

I see some lasagna pizza recipes out there that don't resemble a lasagna pizza at all. People are making regular cheese pizzas with a few additional toppings like onions and pepperoni and calling it a lasagna pizza. This is definitely not my idea of lasagna pizza.

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    • Ricotta is a main ingredient of lasagna.
      By: HandmadePictures
      Ricotta is a main ingredient of lasagna.
    • Lasagna pizza makes a great late night snack.
      By: Michael Pettigrew
      Lasagna pizza makes a great late night snack.