My Lasagne is always chewy! Help!

miss_independent

I've got a surplus of veg at the moment and would like to make a veggie lasagne but whenever I make it the top part is always crispy or chewy. Am I cooking it for too long or not long enough? I will be using wholemeal lasagne sheets btw. Any advice would be appreciated !

Seakay

Do You put cheese or white sauce on top to completely cover the final layer of pasta?
I only ask because it doesn't sound as though the pasta is undercooked or it would be chewy all the way through. It sounds as though your top layer of pasta is drying out for some reason.

Beki

Mine's always like that on the top layer - i thought it was supposed to be like that lol

miss_independent

Yes there is white sauce on top, sometimes it is swimming in it and like you say it is like it is drying out. Its cooked the rest of the way through . What shelf of the oven do you cook it on? The top always resembles one of those chewy dog treats - its inedible!

trixietoes

you could try par boiling the top layer of pasta before putting it on.... I've not tried this so can't say it would work perfectly.

The chewyness is however because there is not enough liquid for the top layer to absorb to become soft.

I am sure someone will come along wth a cracking suggestion soon. Good luck x

kirstyreanne

TBH, the chewy top layer is my favourite bit! especially when it's covered in the melted cheese - mmmmmm!

recovering_spendaholic

I find if you cover the lasagne with foil it helps, but I love the chewy top too!

miss_independent

Thanks! I will try covering it with foil. I'm not too keen on the chewy bit myself!

xx_Jo_xx

If you are using dry pasta sheets, precook them in a pan of water and then lay them out flat on some kitchen towel or something to remove excess moisture.....this should stop them becoming too dry or tough.

The dry sheets normally absorb the excess moisture from the sauce on the top, but if this is being cooked on a high heat, the moisture could be evoparting before the sheets can absorb it.

Try also cooking on a lower heat but for slightly longer.

HTH xx

pollyskettle

I have the opposite problem - my lasagne is nicknamed 'lasagne soup' here as it's always quite runny. I'd try to correct it, but everyone seems to like it as it is lol :rotfl:

I would like to make 'proper' lasagne, just the once though

miss_independent

Polly, I have had that problem too! To be honest, I've never had two lasagnes which were the same . I've given up, its Jacket Potato, Veggie Chilli and Salad for dinner tonight!