Olive Garden's Lasagna Mia: What's The Cheesy Secret?

Olive Garden's Lasagna Mia is a build-your-own lasagna with four different sauces and six toppings, allowing for 24 different combinations. Customers start with the restaurant's four-cheese lasagna as a base and then choose their sauce and toppings. The cheese options include ricotta, Parmesan, Pecorino Romano, and mozzarella. The pinwheel-shaped design of the Lasagna Mia received mixed reactions from Twitter users, with some describing it as pasta pancakes. Despite the controversy over its appearance, the Lasagna Mia sparked a social media frenzy, with many customers intrigued by the opportunity to customize their lasagna.

The four types of cheese in the classic Lasagna Mia recipe

Olive Garden's Lasagna Mia is a build-your-own lasagna, which starts with a four-cheese lasagna base. The four types of cheese in the classic Lasagna Mia recipe are:

Ricotta Cheese

Ricotta is a soft, creamy, and slightly grainy cheese with a mild, milky flavour. It is a key ingredient in the cheese layer of the Lasagna Mia, providing a smooth and creamy texture.

Parmesan Cheese

Parmesan is a hard, aged cheese with a strong, nutty flavour. Grated Parmesan is used in the Lasagna Mia, adding a sharp and savoury note to the dish.

Pecorino Romano Cheese

Pecorino Romano is a sheep's milk cheese with a salty and pungent flavour. Grated Pecorino Romano is used in the Lasagna Mia, contributing to the overall savoury taste and aroma of the dish.

Mozzarella Cheese

Mozzarella is a soft, stretchy, and mild-tasting cheese. Shredded mozzarella is used in the Lasagna Mia, providing a stringy and creamy texture to the dish when melted.

These four cheeses come together to create a rich and indulgent lasagna, with a balance of creamy and stretchy textures and a blend of savoury flavours. Customers can then choose from a variety of sauces and toppings to customise their Lasagna Mia, making it a unique and personalised dining experience.

The pinwheel design

The Lasagna Mia was advertised as a build-your-own, personal lasagna. Customers could choose from four sauces, including a classic meat sauce, marinara, five-cheese marinara, and alfredo. There were also six topping options, such as garden veggies, cheese ravioli, and grilled chicken. With 24 possible combinations, diners could make their Lasagna Mia mighty meaty or packed with veggies.

However, the pinwheel design seemed to be a step too far from the traditional. Twitter users described the new shape as "pasta pancakes", with "ribbons of sauce" cascading down the sides, resembling maple syrup on a stack of pancakes. The Business Insider review of the Lasagna Mia also noted that the pinwheel shape was unappealing, with the outer layer of pasta being tough and dry, making it hard to cut and chew.

Despite the interesting design choice, the Lasagna Mia received some positive feedback for its cheese and sauce. The cheese inside the lasagna was described as pungent and savoury, pairing well with the sauce. Unfortunately, the unusual pinwheel shape made the lasagna more difficult to eat, and the tough outer layer of pasta was off-putting to some diners.

While the pinwheel design may not have been a hit, Olive Garden's attempt to innovate the classic lasagna is commendable. The create-your-own aspect of the Lasagna Mia sparked a social media frenzy, with people intrigued by the idea of customising their own lasagna with various toppings and sauces.

The build-your-own concept

Olive Garden's Lasagna Mia is a build-your-own lasagna concept, allowing diners to customise their meal by choosing from a variety of sauces and toppings. With four different sauces and six toppings to choose from, there are up to 24 different variations of the dish.

Next, customers choose a topping to complete their creation. The topping options include garden veggies, cheese ravioli, mini meatballs, chicken fritta, grilled chicken, or sauteed shrimp.

Additionally, the build-your-own concept adds an interactive and engaging element to the dining experience. Customers can share their creations on social media, exchange favourite combinations, and even post their unique lasagnas online, as seen in the enthusiastic responses to the Lasagna Mia on Twitter.

The four sauces

Olive Garden's Lasagna Mia offers customers four different sauces to choose from. The sauces are meat sauce, classic marinara, five-cheese marinara, and alfredo. The meat sauce is made with beef and Italian sausage, while the five-cheese marinara includes mozzarella, fontina, Parmesan, Romano, and ricotta. The alfredo sauce is cream-based. Customers can also choose from six different toppings to add to their lasagna, creating a variety of combinations.

The classic marinara sauce is a simple tomato-based sauce that is a good option for those who want a more traditional lasagna taste. It is made with crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, and various seasonings. This sauce is a good choice for those who want a lighter option compared to the other sauces.

The five-cheese marinara sauce, on the other hand, is a more indulgent option for cheese lovers. It includes four types of shredded cheese—mozzarella, fontina, Parmesan, and Romano—mixed into the sauce, as well as ricotta cheese spread between the layers of pasta. This sauce is perfect for those who want a creamy, cheesy lasagna.

The meat sauce is a hearty option for those who want a more savoury lasagna. It is made with ground beef and Italian sausage, giving it a rich, meaty flavour. This sauce is a good choice for those who want a more substantial and flavourful lasagna.

Finally, the alfredo sauce is a cream-based sauce that is perfect for those who want a rich and indulgent lasagna. It is made with butter, flour, and milk, creating a smooth and creamy sauce. This sauce is a good option for those who want a unique twist on the traditional lasagna.

Each of these four sauces offers a distinct flavour and experience, allowing customers to customise their Lasagna Mia to their taste preferences. Whether you're a cheese lover, a traditionalist, or someone who wants a heartier meal, Olive Garden's Lasagna Mia has a sauce to suit your taste.

The six toppings

Olive Garden's Lasagna Mia is a create-your-own lasagna with four different sauces and six toppings to choose from, resulting in 24 possible combinations. The toppings include:

Garden Veggies

This topping is a vegetarian option, perfect for those who want a meatless meal. It includes a variety of vegetables such as onions, garlic, and tomatoes, which are commonly used in Italian cooking.

Cheese Ravioli

A unique twist on the traditional lasagna, this topping adds an extra layer of pasta and cheese. The ravioli is typically stuffed with ricotta cheese and adds a creamy texture to the dish.

Mini Meatballs

For those who enjoy a heartier meal, mini meatballs are a great addition. They are made with ground beef and Italian sausage, providing a flavourful and meaty texture to the lasagna.

Chicken Fritta

Chicken Fritta is a breaded and fried chicken option, adding a crispy texture to the lasagna. It is a popular choice for those who want a different type of protein besides meatballs or sausage.

Grilled Chicken

This topping offers a healthier alternative to the fried chicken option. Grilled chicken is a lean protein that pairs well with the other ingredients in the lasagna.

Sauteed Shrimp

For those who enjoy seafood, sauteed shrimp is an excellent choice. It adds a unique flavour and texture to the dish, making it a tasty and adventurous option.

With these six toppings, customers can customise their Lasagna Mia to their preferences and create a variety of flavourful combinations.

Frequently asked questions