Description
Creamy shrimp lasagna beckons with layers of succulent seafood nestled between silky pasta sheets and rich, velvety white sauce. Cheese-lovers will savor each luxurious bite of this indulgent Italian-inspired masterpiece that brings coastal flavors directly to your dinner table.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 1 pound shrimp, peeled, deveined, and chopped
Dairy and Cheese:
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 egg
- 3 cups whole milk (or half-and-half for extra richness)
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Seasonings and Other Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional, for spice)
- ½ cup white wine (or chicken broth)
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg (optional, for depth)
- 9–12 lasagna noodles (regular or oven-ready)
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley (for garnish)
Instructions
- Prepare lasagna noodles by submerging them in boiling salted water until they reach perfect tenderness. Carefully drain and set aside, ensuring they remain separate and ready for layering.
- Create a flavorful shrimp base by sautéing minced garlic in olive oil until it releases its aromatic essence. Introduce shrimp and season with a blend of Italian herbs, red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper.
- Deglaze the shrimp mixture with white wine, allowing the liquid to infuse additional depth. Remove from heat and let the flavors meld while cooling slightly.
- Combine ricotta cheese with a beaten egg and grated Parmesan, then gently fold in the seasoned shrimp mixture, creating a luxurious filling with complex textures.
- Craft a velvety white sauce by melting butter and whisking in flour to create a smooth roux. Gradually incorporate milk, stirring continuously to prevent lumps from forming.
- Enhance the bechamel sauce with a touch of nutmeg, salt, and black pepper. Stir in shredded mozzarella until the sauce becomes rich and creamy.
- Preheat the oven and prepare a baking dish by lightly greasing its surface. Begin layering by spreading a thin coat of white sauce across the bottom.
- Arrange lasagna noodles to create the first foundation, then generously spread the shrimp-ricotta mixture. Drizzle white sauce over the layer to ensure moisture and flavor.
- Repeat the layering process, alternating noodles, shrimp filling, and white sauce. Conclude with a final layer of noodles topped with remaining sauce.
- Sprinkle a generous amount of mozzarella and Parmesan cheese across the top, creating a golden, bubbling surface.
- Cover with foil and bake until the lasagna becomes heated through and the edges turn slightly crisp. Remove the foil during the final cooking stage to achieve a beautiful golden-brown finish.
- Allow the lasagna to rest for several minutes after removing from the oven. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve this elegant seafood-inspired dish.
Notes
- Perfectly cook shrimp by removing them from heat just as they turn pink to prevent rubbery texture and maintain their delicate, sweet flavor.
- Experiment with gluten-free lasagna noodles or zucchini slices for a low-carb alternative that keeps the dish’s rich, creamy essence intact.
- Control sauce thickness by adjusting milk quantity – less milk creates a denser white sauce, while more provides a lighter, more spreadable consistency.
- Enhance seafood depth by using seafood stock instead of white wine, which adds an extra layer of marine richness to the shrimp filling.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 505
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 900 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 42 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 175 mg