Microwave pesto lasagna is a quick first course suitable for festive days. Fresh and tasty, this lasagna is made with thin fresh pasta, microwave-cooked béchamel and the unmissable Genoese pesto. I also take this opportunity to make a bit more of vacuum-cooked pesto lasagna to store for 15 days. Among my MICROWAVE RECIPES the most popular are microwave Bolognese lasagna and microwave vegetarian lasagna.
After explaining how to cook Genoese lasagna in the microwave, at the end of the recipe, you will also find the variant of pesto lasagna with potatoes and green beans in the microwave, in a quick version.
If you want to cook in an energy and time-saving way, you are in the right place. My mission is to make traditional recipes quicker, without compromising on taste. Because from the pan to the jar, there is a world of possibilities!
Also try these microwave recipes:
- Difficulty: Very easy
- Cost: Economical
- Rest time: 5 Minutes
- Preparation time: 20 Minutes
- Portions: 6
- Cooking methods: Microwave
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: All seasons
Ingredients for making Genoese Lasagna in the Microwave
- 2 cups béchamel sauce
- 7 oz Genoese pesto
- 9 oz green beans, frozen, cooked, boiled
- 8 sheets thin egg lasagna
- 4 tbsps grated Grana Padano cheese
Tools Needed for Microwave Lasagna
- 1 Microwave Oven preferably combination and inverter technology
- 1 Baking Dish microwave ceramic, 8.5×4.3 inches
- 1 Bowl
Procedure
Pour the still warm béchamel into the bowl, add the cut green beans, the pesto, and 2 tablespoons of grated cheese. Mix well.
Spread a little sauce on the bottom of the baking dish and then place a lasagna sheet on top. Continue with the pesto and green bean béchamel and keep layering until the sheets are used up, finishing with a nice layer of sauce. Sprinkle the surface of the lasagna with the remaining grated cheese.
Place the lasagna tray in the microwave and start the first cook for 10 minutes at 600 watts. Once the lasagna is pre-cooked, reprogram the microwave with the combined microwave + grill function, at maximum power for 5 minutes.
Check if the lasagna is well gratinated after the second cook, otherwise continue for another 2 minutes.
At the end of cooking, let the lasagna rest in the switched-off microwave for at least 5 minutes. This way, they will be easier to cut and the heat will distribute well.
Serve your pesto lasagna, perhaps garnishing with a few fresh basil leaves.
Tips, Storage, and Variations
Pesto lasagna, once cooked, are stored like any lasagna baked in the oven. 2-3 days in the refrigerator, covering the baking dish with aluminum foil, but not in direct contact with the food.
Reheating Lasagna in the Microwave
To reheat lasagna, you can decide whether to portion it, place it on an individual plate, and heat for 4 minutes at 600 watts. I do not recommend higher powers because the fats in the béchamel and pesto heat up very quickly in the microwave. If cold from the fridge, I recommend starting for 2-3 minutes at 300 watts, to reach the core of the lasagna, and then proceed to 600 W.
Microwave Dry Pesto Lasagna
To cook dry lasagna in the microwave, you can proceed as in the microwave cannelloni recipe. Prepare a more liquid béchamel by reducing the flour, cover the baking dish with microwave cling film, and start the first cooking. Then, remove the film and gratinate.
Lasagna with Pesto, Potatoes, and Green Beans in the Microwave
If you enjoy pesto lasagna with potatoes, you can cook potatoes and green beans in a jar even 15 days in advance or follow the procedure below.
How to Steam Green Beans with Potatoes in the Microwave
Take 9 oz of frozen green beans and distribute them in a baking dish, add 7 oz of peeled and diced potatoes, add 100 ml of water, salt, then cover the dish with microwave cling film, adhering well. Poke 2 holes with a toothpick and then cook in the microwave for 15 minutes at 600 watts.
Lasagna with Crisp Function
Microwaves with Crisp function generally also have the combined microwave + grill function, which I recommend for this recipe. If you prefer, you can cook them with the Crisp function, using the special baking dish and starting first for 8 minutes with the microwave function only at 600 watts. Then, start with the Crisp function for another 6-7 minutes.
Frozen Lasagna in the Microwave
You can freeze microwave-cooked pesto lasagna after cooking them in the first step and without gratinating. Then, take the frozen lasagna dish, insert it in the microwave, and start for 10 minutes with the defrost function, then start with the combined micro and grill function for about 7 minutes. In this case, I also recommend resting in the switched-off microwave for 6-7 minutes.
