Many recipes call for several kinds of cheese, most often ricotta, mozzarella and parmesan. The classic Lasagne alla Bolognese uses only Parmigiano Reggiano.

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A variant is Lasagne verde (green lasagne) which is the normal egg pasta with spinach added.

Lasagne was first recorded in the 13th century when it was used in a layered dish. This early version did not include tomatoes, which had not yet been discovered by Europeans.

Lasagne is the favorite dish of the fictional cat Garfield.

Quotation

• We shall feast our grape-gleaners with lasagne so tempting to swallow in slippery ropes.

  - Robert Browning, poem, "Englishman in Italy"