Caramelized Onion and Pancetta Lasagne

With its hearty ingredients, this lasagne works best when made with dried noodles. If possible, make the casserole a few hours before baking and serving to give the flavors time to marry. Prosciutto may replace the pancetta.

Yield:

Serves 6

Ingredients

1. For the béchamel sauce:
2. ====================
3. 4 Tbs. (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
4. 2 shallots, peeled and minced
5. 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
6. 2 cups milk
7. 1 cup heavy cream
8. Salt and freshly ground white pepper, to taste
9. .
10. For the caramelized onions:
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12. 1/2 cup clarified butter or pure olive oil
13. 5 lb. yellow onions, peeled, halved and very thinly sliced
14. 6 quarts water
15. 1 Tbs. salt
16. 15 dried lasagne noodles
17. 1 Tbs. olive oil
18. 1/2 lb. pancetta, minced
19. 3/4 lb. fresh mozzarella cheese, thinly sliced
20. Fresh flat-leaf parsley sprigs

Directions

1. To make the béchamel sauce, in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat, melt the butter. Add the shallots and sauté until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the flour and cook, stirring frequently, for 3 minutes. Do not let it brown. Using a whisk, slowly mix in the milk and cream. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring frequently, until the sauce thickens, about 8 minutes. Remove from the heat and season with salt and white pepper. Use immediately or cover and refrigerate for up to 1 day.
2. To make the caramelized onions, in a large, heavy fry pan over medium heat, warm the clarified butter. Add the onions, cover the pan and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are completely limp, 10 to 15 minutes. Remove the lid, reduce the heat to medium-low and cook, stirring frequently, until the onions are golden brown and sweet, 35 to 45 minutes. Do not let them burn. Remove from the heat, cool and use immediately, or cover and refrigerate for up to 10 days or freeze for up to 2 months.
3. Preheat an oven to 350ºF. Coat the inside of a 9 by13-inch baking dish with olive oil.
4. In a large pot over high heat, bring the water to a boil. Add the salt and lasagne noodles and cook until al dente (tender but firm to the bite), about 12 minutes, or according to the package instructions. Drain well, rinse in cool water and drain again. Immediately toss noodles with the olive oil.
5. Spread 1/4 cup of the béchamel sauce in the bottom of the baking dish. Cover with 3 lasagne noodles, touching but not overlapping. Make 5 layers of the caramelized onions, pancetta, mozzarella cheese and noodles, ending with the cheese. Top with the remaining béchamel sauce. Cover tightly with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove the foil and bake until the top is just beginning to brown, about 10 minutes more.
6. To serve, let lasagne cool for 10 minutes and divide among warmed individual plates. Garnish each serving with a parsley sprig. Serves 6.

Notes