Father's Day 2026: Impress Dad With This Creamy, Cheesy
Lasagna Bianca
65 mins
Cooking Time
Intermediate
Difficulty
15
Ingredients
Veg
Diet
Father's Day comes once a year and this Lasagna Bianca or White Lasagna is definitely a great choice to celebrate the day. A buttery béchamel, lemony ricotta and cannellini beans are sandwiched between layers of pasta, topped with melted mozzarella. It works fine as the only main course, with just a salad needed alongside it. The texture changes with each bite; creamy, a little lemon and some bite from the beans.
You begin by making a roux on the stove and adding some milk and cream until you form a béchamel sauce. Also, prepare a mixture of ricotta, parmesan, lemon zest, and parsley. Then proceed to layer the lasagna on a tray: the pasta, ricotta mixture, beans, sauces, cheese, and repeat until the tray is filled. Bake until bubbling and golden; rest a few minutes before cutting into slices.
This dish is not just for Father's Day but you can prepare it for Sunday dinners or for a family gathering as well. You can prepare the entire lasagna the night before and refrigerate it until it is ready to bake. Or freeze it unbaked and thaw it overnight before baking. Leftovers can be stored in the fridge for several days.
Ingredients
UNITSIngredients
12 sheetsFresh lasagna sheets
3 tablespoonsPlain flour
1/4 teaspoonSalt
3 tablespoonsButter
1/4 teaspoonBlack pepper
2 cupsMilk
1 cupCream
1 cupParmigiano-reggiano, grated
2 cupsRicotta
2 cupsMozzarella, grated
1 bunchFresh parsley, chopped
from 1 lemonLemon zest
2 cansCannellini beans, drained and rinsed
1 cupSundried tomatoes, roughly chopped and drained
Preheat oven to 200°C. Brush an oven tray 34cm x 24cm with olive oil. Be sure to grease the corners and sides well so that lasagna will not stick during baking.
Description - Step 2
Step 2: Prepare roux
In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Stir in the flour, salt, and pepper and make a thick paste. Continue cooking and stirring for about 2 minutes until the paste is slightly lighter.
Description - Step 3
Step 3: Making the Béchamel sauce
Slowly add the milk and cream, whisking constantly to prevent any lumps from forming. Keep the heat at medium and stir frequently as it comes to a gentle boil and thickens into a smooth sauce. Remove from the heat after thickening, and add half of the parmigiano-reggiano, stirring until it is melted through.
Description - Step 4
Step 4: Prepare the ricotta filling
In a separate bowl, combine the ricotta, remaining parmigiano-reggiano, lemon zest, and chopped parsley. Stir until well combined. This will make your creamy, herby filling while layering.
Description - Step 5
Step 5: Layering the lasagna
Apply a light layer of the white sauce to the bottom of the tray. Place 2 to 3 pasta sheets horizontally on top of it. Don't worry if they don't fully cover the base, they'll expand as they bake. Spoon on top of the pasta some ricotta mixture and top with sundried tomatoes. Add a little more white sauce, then add cannellini beans and mozzarella. Continue this process until the tray is nearly full. Complete with the remaining white sauce and a good sprinkling of mozzarella.
Description - Step 6
Step 6: Bake the lasagna
Place the tray in the oven and bake for about 35 minutes until the top is bubbling and lightly golden brown.
Description - Step 7
Step 7: Rest and serve
Take out of the oven and allow lasagna to cool at room temperature for a minimum of 10 minutes prior to cutting. Resting allows the lasagna layers to settle and give you clean cuts.
In this lasagna Bianca recipe béchamel and ricotta add a buttery, mellow taste; the lemon zest and parsley provide a bit of freshness; and the sundried tomatoes add a hint of sweetness to all the cheese.
Yes, dried sheets will suffice when there's no fresh ones available. Pre-boil them according to the packet instructions or add a splash more milk to béchamel, as dried pasta will absorb more moisture during baking.
Butter beans or chickpeas are both good substitutes for making this lasagna recipe. They maintain their form in a similar manner and do not alter the taste of the food.
Yes, you can put it together the night before and store it in the refrigerator until you're ready to bake. It can also be frozen unbaked for up to three months and then thawed overnight before baking.