Time once again for another Daring Bakers Challenge!! Only this month we have a new website, new logos, and a very different kind of challenge: making your own pasta! And not just any pasta, spinach lasagna noodles layered with a country ragu and bechamel sauce. Veganizing this challenge wasn't even an issue. Those eggs that pasta recipes call for? Not needed at all! For the pasta dough I used a recipe from Nonna's Italian Kitchen, but substituted semolina flour for regular flour and added pureed spinach. I made my ragu using a simple marinara sauce recipe and adding some texture in the form of sauteed onions, green pepper, soy crumbles, fresh basil, and plenty of garlic. The bechamel started with a simple roux of Earth Balance and flour, with soymilk, white pepper, and nutmeg added to the mix and thickened. But really the whole process is best illustrated in pictorial format...
Since I am lucky enough to have a husband who is half Italian, we actually own a pasta machine! Not that I've ever used it until now. With John's help we cranked out pasta sheet after pasta sheet...
After cutting the pasta into shapes resembling lasagna noodles, they were spread out to dry. I had quite a bit of pasta leftover!
Vegan Noodle holding one long vegan noodle!
Sauces simmering....
One thing about making your own pasta... it makes a mess. Flour everywhere and in every crevice!! It was even all over the floor by the time we finished.
But it was all worth it in the end. I'm not sure I'll ever be quite as happy with dried pasta. The two sauces complimented each other nicely and the noodles were amazing.
The March 2009 challenge is hosted by Mary of Beans and Caviar, Melinda of Melbourne Larder and Enza of Io Da Grande. They have chosen Lasagne of Emilia-Romagna from The Splendid Table by Lynne Rossetto Kasper as the challenge.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Daring Bakers Challenge: Noodles!! for Lasagna
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53 comments:
Your pasta-making skills are uncanny, dear Amanda!! Love this month's DBC.
Wow! That looks crazy delicious. And nothing like enjoying a meal that took a bit of hard work. How satisfying.
That looks great! Your homemade pasta looks like it was totally worth it.
Miss Noodle, you are so cute. That is all.
Beautifully done!
That looks good! You can put parchment underneath your pasta maker and on top of the surrounding area; that will help!
homemade pasta! i have too much anxiety to make that much of a mess in the kitch but it looks yum!
Your noodles look great!
this looks totally decadent.
I know what you mean about a huge mess....but mine never came out as gorgeous as yours. I use an attachment to my kitchen aid and have a really hard time. My dough (Nonna's) always tears on me. I think I'm just pasta challenged.
Looking at yours, I'm tempted to try again. That lasagna is perfection.
YUMM!! :)
Wow! I just love love love this..
Wonderful lasagna! Very impressive how it's so cleanly sliced for the photograph, too. :)
You did an amazing job with this challenge. The lasagna looks rich and delicious--and that pasta! Perfect. :)
Love the machine cranking out the pasta!
Ditto on the 'that lasagna looks totally decadent' comment...!
Looks almost as much fun as making puff pastry (in my pregan days of course...)
I love the green pasta sheets! You have the colors of the Italian flag in your lasagna.
I've never had lasagna with homemade pasta before...it looks like heaven!
I think you inspired me to break out my pasta machine... it's been about a year. this looks amazing!
I've never made my own pasta, but now I totally want to! I don't have a pasta machine, but I'm sure I could just do it the old fashioned way and use a rolling pin.
To be honest, I'm surprised you've never used to pasta machine for fondant - that's probably how I would use one most of the time!
YUM! That lasagna looks absolutely incredible! I want, I want!!!
Looks fabulous! I made quite a mess in our kitchen too.
I'm in awe! And obviously out of words :D (In a good way)
Why didn't I put on some cheezy Italian Music when I was making my lasagna???? Ok, next time I am totally going to copy you!
I also really dug this lasagna - it was multo delicious!
looks good! ps-I have that same shirt. etsy rocks.
Wow. The lasagna looks awesome. You are such a talented cook.
Your finished shot looks amazing! Love the long noodle photo too.
My God, beautiful beautiful noodles you rolled out there! Your lasagne looks heavenly too. Congratulations!
I have that same pasta machine, and I hate to admit that I've never used it. That needs to change! I think I'll steal your idea! haha.
Cute pics! I made a vegan (and gluten-free) lasagna too... :) It wasn't quite as sturdy as yours, but it was really pretty good and tasted great!
-Sea
I don't know how many times I've read... we used our pasta machine for the first time. Nonnas around the world are so proud of you!
Congrats on being featured on Vegan.com - it's no wonder, the lasagna is SO delectable!! Your pasta looks totally perfect - beautiful job!! :)
That plating is so beautiful! And your noodles are super impressive. That is one dinner I'm so wishing was on my plate right now.
This looks absolutely delicious! Well done on making your own pasta too wow!!
miss vegan noodle... your a genious... that looks SOOSOSOOSO yummy (no joke im practically drooling!)
Yes I will never go back to dried pasta. Love the photos especially of the extra long pasta sheet
That is a really delicious looking lasagna. One of these days I will have to try making my own pasta.
Wow, Amanda! Yours is the best looking lasagna I've seen! I love your picture of Vegan noodle holding a vegan noodle :)
Incredible job!! So impressive!!!
Waouw, ta lasagne est superbe :)
Et quelle grande cuisine tu as l'air d'avoir... :)
Bravo :)
Wow what an amazing pasta maker you are! The recipe sounds absolutely wonderful.
That lasagna looks incredible! Nice work with the homemade pasta.
when i make pasta, the kitchen looks like a freaking tornado hit it. i sooo feel you on that. :)
those are some fine-lookin' noodles!
i really must say that this is the best looking of all the lasagnas i've seen for this challenge! we have a pasta machine too, but i've only ever used it to make wonton wrappers. i keep meaning to do pasta! that pic of you with the noodle is so cute, by the way!
Looks amazing.
I was inspired by your post and made vegan ravioli with my pasta machine. I blogged about it at my blog, and included a mention to this post.
Your lasagne is gorgeous! Your pasta turned out so beautifully thin and lovely.
Natalie @ Gluten a Go Go
Your end product looks so amazing! Definitely worth the time and effort. And it looks like you guys had fun :)
Your lasagne layers are perfect! I'm so jealous of your pasta machine :) Dried noodles really aren't going to cut it anymore.
I tried making pasta once. It came out all gummy and thick. Looks like you've got the art down! Maybe I'll try again.
Oh that lasagna looks the best! How fun to make your own noodles too! How do you like your pasta roller? I've been researching for months.
Oh darlin that lasagna looks so good! And what a FAB pic of you with that noodle! lol! You're just adorable!!! I'm glad to have finally gotten to see a recent pic of you now I can "see" you when I look at your blog & read your pots! :)
Wow, that looks amazing!!! I have been wanting to try and make my own pasta. You have inspired me to actually do it!
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