Handmade PastaHANDMADE PASTA
Plated lasagna with Genovese pesto and potatoes
recipe_by
Maurizio Pigliacampi

Lasagna al pesto alla Genovese, served on a plate, represents one of the most free expressions of Ligurian cuisine.
In the article’s photo, it is a more artistic and visually striking version compared to the traditional recipe, which instead requires a precise and orderly layering of ingredients in a baking dish.
Here, the composition can be interpreted with greater freedom: what matters is not strict layering, but respect for the raw ingredients and the balance of the dish.
The real difference is always made by the quality of the ingredients and proper cooking: the pasta must remain soft yet intact, the pesto fresh and not altered by heat, and the potatoes present but not overpowering.
Beyond that, there is room for creativity. In this dish, technique leads the way, but freedom completes the result.
ingredients
Details
Classic Caputo flour for all uses, perfect for light bread with soft white crumb, W 220/240 and elasticity P/L 0.50-0.60. 1 kg format with 12-month shelf life, this Caputo flour ensures excellent results.
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Discover the rich flavor of Grana Padano Riserva GranTerre, aged over 20 months. Naturally lactose-free, this DOP cheese offers an intense and refined aroma, with notes of butter, hay, and nuts, enhanced by its pleasant granular texture and calcium lactate crystals.Perfect to enjoy on its own or grated over pasta, risotto, and gourmet dishes. It pairs beautifully with aged red wines or delicate honeys, which highlight its rich flavors.Bring an authentic Italian character to your kitchen with this premium Grana Padano!
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Yellow-fleshed potatoes are the ideal choice. They have a firm texture, hold their shape well during cooking, and do not fall apart, staying intact even when cut into cubes in pasta.
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True fresh Genoese pesto comes from a very specific tradition and balance of ingredients which is why it stands out from all other green sauces.It is made with fresh basil, extra virgin olive oil, Parmigiano Reggiano, Pecorino, garlic, pine nuts, and salt. Nothing is cooked everything is blended raw traditionally with a mortar and pestle to preserve aroma and color.The key is freshness. Basil must be young fragrant and not bitter; the oil must be high quality and not overpowering; the cheeses must add depth without making the sauce heavy. When done correctly the result is a bright green creamy sauce with a fresh aromatic and perfectly balanced taste.Unlike many industrial versions real Genoese pesto is not dark thick or overly processed. It is light fragrant and alive designed to enhance pasta vegetables or simple dishes without covering their natural flavor.
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The best egg in the kitchen is not the one that looks “the most beautiful,” but the one that is the freshest and has traceable quality. Ideally, it comes from free-range or floor-raised hens, with a firm, rich yolk and a thick egg white , clear signs of freshness.The code on the shell says everything: it is best to choose category 0 (organic) or 1 (free-range) eggs, because feed and farming conditions directly affect both taste and structure. A good egg does not “add volume,” it changes the final result.
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Coarse Whole Sea Salt – Authentic, Natural, MediterraneanOur coarse whole sea salt is harvested from pristine salt pans where the sea, sun, and wind work together in perfect harmony. It is collected and packaged without any processing or refining, preserving all its natural minerals and organoleptic properties. This is how the true, pure taste of the sea reaches your table.Thanks to its coarse texture and high solubility, this salt is ideal for all types of cooking: perfect during preparation, for vegetables, meat, fish, homemade bread, and doughs that require gradual and even seasoning.Because it is completely natural, slight clumping may occur. Simply shake the package to restore the salt to optimal condition. Store in a cool, dry place, away from light.Why wholeBecause it reaches you just as it is born: unrefined, untreated, simply harvested and carefully packaged. Following the rhythm of nature and tradition, it becomes an authentic product that enhances every dish with a genuine, natural touch.
Read Morepreparation
- 1
Dough preparation
Make a well with the flour on a work surface. Add the egg yolks and a pinch of salt.
Work the dough until you obtain a smooth, elastic, and compact mixture. If needed, add a very small amount of water, but the goal is to keep the dough dry and stable.
Let it rest, covered, for at least 20–30 minutes. - 2
Rolling out the pasta
Roll the sheet of dough very thin: the thinner it is, the more elegant and light the dish will be.
The rule is simple: it should almost “let you read the table underneath.”
Let the sheet rest for a few minutes to dry slightly. - 3
Cutting the lasagna sheets
Gently roll up the sheet of dough and cut it into strips. Then shape them into regular rectangles.
Lightly dust with flour to prevent them from sticking together. - 4
Cooking the pasta
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
Cook the lasagna sheets a few at a time: they must remain manageable and not stick together.
Keep the boiling time short (about 2–3 minutes), then drain them using a slotted spoon. - 5
Drying
Lay the cooked sheets on a clean kitchen towel or a tray.
This step is essential: if you stack them immediately, you’ve already lost the battle. - 6
Potatoes (key element of the Genovese version)
Boil them in salted water until soft but still intact.
Cut them into thin slices or small cubes.
Important note: potatoes are not a side dish. They are part of the structure of the dish. - 7
Assembling the lasagna
In a baking dish or a large serving plate, build the layers as follows:
Lasagna sheets
Genovese pesto, evenly distributed
Boiled potatoes
Parmigiano ReggianoRepeat the layers until all ingredients are used.
- 8
Logic of the layers
Pesto should not be “thrown in randomly”: it must be spread evenly, not piled up.
The potatoes should add sweetness and structure.
The Parmigiano binds and completes each layer.
If you overdo even one element, the dish loses its balance. - 9
Serving
Serve warm, not piping hot.
Simple reason: the pesto must not continue cooking on the plate, otherwise it loses its color, aroma, and character.Final result
True lasagna with pesto is not heavy, not “greasy,” and not messy.
It is layered, soft, green, and well-balanced.
And above all: when done properly, it disappears too quickly to even be photographed.