Why You Will Want To Cook Spinach Before Adding It To Lasagna - Tasting Table

"Besides adding an extra boost of nutrients, spinach can add a really grounding, earthy flavor to a ricotta mixture or veggie layer. The one step that you can't miss when adding spinach to your lasagna, though, is to cook it first. The types of spinach commonly used for lasagna, including curly or flat-leaf, contain a lot of water. If you fail to cook out that water beforehand, the residual moisture may permeate the other layers, leading to a watery, heavy, and soggy pasta dish."

"It's hard to completely remove all of the moisture from your spinach, but one of the easiest ways to tell that it's done cooking and ready to put in your lasagna is when the bottom of the pan is dry. From there, you should transfer your cooked spinach to a strainer over the sink and gently press the leaves to drain any remaining water."

Spinach enhances lasagna with nutrients and an earthy flavor but contains high water content that can make lasagna soggy. Cook spinach before adding, preferably by sauteing with butter, garlic, shallots, salt, and pepper to concentrate flavor and expel moisture. Cook until the bottom of the pan is dry, then transfer to a strainer and gently press to remove remaining water. Frozen spinach is cost-effective but must be thoroughly drained by ringing it out in a clean dishcloth or using a strainer. Proper draining prevents a watery, heavy, and mushy pasta.

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