Best Caramelized Onion Lasagna With Pancetta Recipes

CARAMELIZED ONION LASAGNA WITH PANCETTA

Steps:

• For the caramelized onions, heat the butter and olive oil in a large Dutch oven or heavy bottomed skillet over medium high heat.
• Add the onions, (the pan will be quite full at first), cover the pan with a lid (or with fil if the pan is too crowded), and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are completely limp, 10 to 15 minutes.
• REduce the heat to medium, remove the lid, add the sugar and cook uncovered, stirring often, until the onions are golden brown and sweet, 45 to 55 minuters.
• Do not let them burn; reduce the heat to medium low if the onions are browning too fast.
• About 2 minutes before removing the onions from the heat, stir in the thyme.
• Transfer the onions to a bowl, let cook and use immediately, or cover and refrigerate for up to 10 days or freeze for up to 2 months.
• For the bechamel, melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat.
• Add the shallots and saute until soft, about 5 minutes.
• Add the flour and cook, stirring frequently for 3 minutes, (do not let brown).
• Increase the heat to medium and slowly whisk in the milk and cream.
• REduce the heat to medium low and simmer, whisking frequently, until the sauce thickens, 8 to 10 minutes.
• REmove from heat and season to taste with salt and white pepper.
• Use immediately, or let cool, cover and refrigerate for up to 1 day.
• If using the next day, warm the sauce over low heat before continuing.
• Saute the pancetta iin a medium skillet over medium heat until just cooked, 3 to 5 minutes, stirring often.
• Drain onto paper towels and set aside.
• Cook the lasagna noodles in boiling water to which you have added the olive oil and some salt, about 12 minutes, or according to package instructions.
• Drain well, rinse under cool water and drain again.
• Preheat oven to 350*F.
• Brush a 9 by 13 inch baking dish with olive oil.
• Spread 1/2 cup of the bechamel sauce in the bottom of dish.
• Cover with 3 noodles, touching but not overlapping.
• Spread the noodles with another 1/2 cup of the bechamel, then top with 1/4 each of the onions, pancetta, mozzarella cheese and top with another layer of noodles.
• Repeat this layering 3 more times.
• Top with remaining bechamel sauce.
• Cover the baking dish tightly with foil and bake for 30 minutes.
• Remove the foil and bake until the top is just beginning to brown, about 10 minutes more.
• If the top is not browning, turn on the broiler and cook under the broiler until the top begins to brown, about 5 minutes.
• To serve let the sasagna sit in the pan for 10 to 15 minutes, then cut into servings and arrange the lasagna on individual plates, garnishing each serving with a thyme or a parsley sprig.

BUTTERNUT SQUASH, CARAMELIZED ONION AND SPINACH LASAGNA

Steps:

• Roast the butternut squash. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cut squash in half lengthwise; remove seeds. Place in roasting pan and drizzle with 3 tablespoons of olive oil. Place in oven and cook until soft all the way through, about 1 hour. Set aside until cool. When cooled, remove skin and place in food processor. Purée until smooth, season with salt and pepper to taste, and set aside.
• To caramelize the onions: Place 3 tablespoons of olive oil in sauté pan. Heat until hot but not smoking; add onions. Toss to coat with oil. Turn heat down to medium and cook until onions are soft and browned, about 25 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Set aside.
• Prepare a ricotta cheese mixture. Mix ricotta cheese, chopped rosemary, eggs, half the grated Parmesan and salt and pepper to taste. Set aside.
• Make a spinach Mornay sauce. Melt butter in a saucepan, add flour and stir. Cook 2 minutes. Add milk and stir until it comes to a boil. Add the rest of the grated Parmesan, the nutmeg and the defrosted spinach. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside.
• Assemble the dish. Spray a 9" x 13" pan with cooking spray. Spread 1 cup of the spinach sauce on the bottom of the pan. Cover with a layer of fresh pasta sheets. Spread half of the roasted butternut squash on top of the pasta sheets. Top with another layer of pasta sheets. Spread ricotta cheese mixture on top of pasta sheets, and spread caramelized onion on top of ricotta mixture. Cover with an additional layer of pasta sheets. Top with the other half of the butternut purée and then another layer of pasta. Finish by using the rest of the spinach Mornay sauce for the top layer. Cover with aluminum foil and bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour. Uncover and cook for 15 minutes more.

CREAMY ONION LASAGNA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°. In a Dutch oven, cook beef over medium heat until no longer pink; drain. Stir in roasted garlic Parmesan spaghetti sauce. Combine the egg, cottage cheese and onion dip., Spread 1 cup Italian sausage and garlic spaghetti sauce into a greased 13x9-in. baking dish. Top with 4 noodles. Layer with half of the cottage cheese mixture, half of the beef mixture and 1 cup mozzarella cheese. Repeat layers. Top with remaining noodles, sauce and mozzarella cheese., Cover and bake 50 minutes. Uncover; bake 5-10 minutes or until cheese is melted. Let stand for 15 minutes before cutting. Freeze option: Cool unbaked lasagna; cover and freeze. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Remove from refrigerator 30 minutes before cooking. Bake as directed, increasing time as necessary to heat through and for a thermometer inserted in center to read 165°.

THE BEST LASAGNA

Steps:

• Place the beef in a large bowl and "pull" it apart with two forks as if you were shredding pulled pork, breaking up the clumps and loosening the meat without compacting it.
• Heat the oil in a Dutch oven or large heavy pot over medium-high heat. Add the pancetta and cook, stirring occasionally, until the fat has rendered and the meat is golden brown, 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer the pancetta to a large bowl with a slotted spoon, leaving the fat in the pot.
• Spread the beef in an even layer in the same pot and cook undisturbed until lightly browned, about 3 minutes. Toss and continue to cook, breaking up any clumps and scraping up any browned bits from the pot, until the meat is browned and completely cooked, 5 to 6 minutes. Transfer the browned meat with a slotted spoon to the bowl with the pancetta, leaving the fat in the pot.
• Reduce the heat to medium. Add the carrots, celery, onions, half the garlic, the bay leaf, oregano, red pepper flakes, nutmeg, 2 teaspoons salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper to the pot and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender but not browned, 6 to 8 minutes.
• Add the tomato paste and cook, stirring constantly, until it's very fragrant and brick red colored, about 2 minutes. Stir in the wine, bring to a boil and reduce until the liquid is very thick and no smell of alcohol remains, 6 to 8 minutes. Add the tomatoes and the reserved pancetta and beef, bring to a boil and then reduce the heat to low. Add the basil and Parmesan rind and simmer, stirring occasionally, until most of the liquid has evaporated and the sauce resembles sloppy joes, 2 to 2 1/2 hours. There shouldn't be any rapid bubbles while cooking. Instead, the ragu should release occasional small bubbles. If the ragu reduces too quickly, add 1/2 cup of water and continue cooking. Repeat if necessary. The ragu needs the full 2 to 2 1/2 hour cook time to develop the flavors.
• Discard the bay leaf, basil and Parmesan rind. Break up any remaining clumps of meat with the back of a spoon, making an even textured sauce. Season with salt and set aside until ready to assemble.
• Arrange a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Cook the noodles, stirring occasionally and separating them to prevent sticking, until softened and bendable but are still hard and chalky in the center, about 5 minutes. Transfer the noodles to a large bowl of cold water and set aside until ready to assemble.
• Stir together the ricotta, 1 cup of the Parmesan, the remaining grated garlic and 2 teaspoons salt in a medium bowl until thoroughly combined. Set aside until ready to assemble.
• Lightly oil a 13-by-9-inch glass or ceramic baking pan. Spread 1 cup of the ragu evenly in the bottom of the pan. Lay a single layer of noodles over the ragu (if you're using long noodles, you will need to cut some noodles to fill the gaps). Spread 1 1/2 cups of the ragu over the noodles. Dollop 3/4 cup of the ricotta mixture over the ragu and spread lightly with a small offset spatula. Sprinkle with 1/2 cup of the mozzarella, followed by another layer of noodles. Repeat with the remaining pasta, ragu, ricotta mixture and mozzarella, creating 4 layers of pasta and ending with the remaining 1/2 cup mozzarella. (The lasagna should come just above the top of the pan but it will sink down slightly as it cooks.) Top with the remaining 1/4 cup Parmesan.
• Lightly oil a piece of foil and cover the pan. Put the pan on a rimmed baking sheet to catch any drips. Bake the lasagna until bubbling gently around the edges, about 1 hour.
• Remove the lasagna from the oven and increase the oven temperature to 450 degrees F. Remove the foil and then continue to bake the lasagna until the top is browned and crisp around the edges, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Let sit 10 minutes before serving.

SWISS CHARD AND CARAMELIZED ONION LASAGNA

Steps:

• Cook noodles just until tender. Cover with plastic wrap and set aside.
• In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium heat.
• Add garlic and cook, stirring often, about 30 seconds.
• Add chard and cook, stirring often, until tender, 5 minutes.
• Transfer to a medium bowl and stir in ricotta. Season with salt and pepper and set aside.
• Wipe out skillet, heat remaining oil over medium heat.
• Add onions, cook and stir, until onions begin to brown all over.
• Sprinkle with sugar, cook and stir until deep amber in color, about 20 minutes.
• Remove from heat and splash with vinegar.
• In a medium saucepan, heat 2 1/2 cups milk over medium heat until steaming.
• Put flour in a small bowl and whisk in 1/2 cup milk until smooth; whisk into hot milk and continue to whisk until until sauce simmers and thickens. Cook and stir 1 minute longer.
• Stir in parmesan or Asiago cheese until melted and smooth. Season with salt and pepper.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• Lightly oil a 9x13-inch baking dish.
• Coat bottom of dish with 1/2 cup sauce.
• Line bottom with a single layer of noodles.
• Spread half the chard over noodles.
• Add another layer of noodles, arrange onions on top and season with salt and pepper.
• Spread another 1/2 cup of sauce over all.
• Add another layer of noodles, followed by remaining chard.
• Finish with remaining noodles and sauce. Sprinkle with remaining Parmesan.
• Tightly cover with foil sprayed with cooking spray.
• Bake 30 minutes.
• Uncover and bake 10-15 minutes, until light brown and bubbly.
• Let stand 10 minutes before serving.