Pasticcio di Radicchio e Pancetta (Radicchio and Pancetta Pie)

On a recent trip to Verona we went to the incredible Cappa Café where we ate on their beautiful outdoor terrace (with the white umbrellas) overlooking the Teatro Romano di Verona.

For the first time, I tried Pasticcio di Radicchio and knew I had to try to replicate it as soon as I got home. It was a simpler version of a lasagne, with a creamy béchamel sauce layered with fresh pasta sheets and braised radicchio. I couldn’t get radicchio so substituted red chicory, and added pancetta to my version for a bit of extra flavour. If you can't get either of these at your local supermarket, you can use leeks and bacon instead.

What you need:

Fresh lasagne sheets

300 grams of red radicchio (or chicory), washed and cut into strips

150 grams pancetta, cubed

1 tablespoon olive oil 1 clove garlic

30 ml of dry white wine

100 grams of grated parmesan cheese

40 grams butter

6 tablespoons flour

1 litre of milk
Nutmeg

Salt

Pepper

Heat the olive oil in a frying pan then add the garlic, pancetta and radicchio. Fry over a medium heat for a few minutes then add the white wine, salt and pepper. Stir through before covering the pan with a lid and cooking on a low heat for 10 minutes.

Drain the liquid from the radicchio and pancetta and set aside.

Make the béchamel sauce by melting the butter in a saucepan and then adding the flour. Stir vigorously until you have a smooth paste, then start pouring in the milk a bit at a time. A good tip is to heat the milk first so that it doesn't cool down the sauce. Add a pinch of salt and some nutmeg for flavour. Continue to stir the mixture until it thickens.

Place a layer of lasagne across the bottom of a buttered oven dish. Next place a layer of the braised radicchio, cover with a layer of the white sauce and finally sprinkle with a layer of grated cheese. Repeat this layering process three times.

Place the baking dish in a pre-heated oven and cook for 35 minutes at 200 degrees or until the top is golden and crispy.

Now I just need to learn how to make the incredible Torta Della Nonna that we had for dessert!