Lasagne Bianca (Italian White Lasagna with Mushrooms and Burrata)

Lasagne Bianca means white lasagna, so no tomatoes. Instead this divine lasagna from Puglia has 3 kinds of mushrooms including porcini, béchamel, grated Parmigiano and creamy fresh burrata.

17 oz lasagne pasta sheets (500 g)
14 oz fresh burrata (400 g)
3½ cups Béchamel sauce (700 mL)
17 oz cardoncelli (king oyster) and/or porcini mushrooms (500 g)
3½ oz Parmesan or Pecorino cheese, freshly grated (100 g)
1-2 cloves garlic
½ glass white wine
1 handful fresh parsley
butter
sea salt
black pepper, freshly ground
2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil

Preheat an oven to 350°F (180°C, Gas Mark 4).

If the mushrooms are fresh, start by cleaning them. Cut off the lower part of the stem, immerse them in water and washing them thoroughly without breaking them until clean of any soil.

Pat the mushrooms dry with a cloth and cut them into pieces. If you are using dried porcini, you need to soak them in a bowl with warm water for at least half an hour and then drain them.

Put 2 Tbsp. of extra virgin olive oil into a non-stick frying pan and heat. When the oil is hot add one or two peeled cloves garlic (as desired). Add the mushrooms and let them brown a little.

Lower the flame and add the white wine, a handful of chopped parsley, salt and pepper. Let the mushrooms cook for about 40 minutes until they are soft. If the sauce gets too dry, add more wine or some vegetable broth.

In the meantime make the béchamel.

Add a little bit of béchamel to the mushroom sauce. Turn off the flame and let the mushrooms marinate. Remove the garlic from the frying pan.

Cut the outer part of burrata into small pieces in a bowl so that you can keep the stracciatella (the soft part inside of the cheese) in the bowl and put it aside. Grease an oven dish with butter.

Fill the bottom with lasagne sheets (precooked to not quite al dente if dried). Add some béchamel and mushrooms, cover with burrata pieces and grated cheese.

Continue to layer until all the lasagne have been used and the dish is almost full. Finish by covering the last layer with the last of the béchamel, the stracciatella (the creamy mixture from inside the burrata), the remaining grated cheese and some small bits of butter.

Bake for about 30 minutes.

When ready allow the dish to stand for 10 minutes before serving.

Makes 4 servings.

Cook's Notes: You can add some chopped cooked ham or sausage meat (200 g) which has been browned in a pan with a Tbsp. of oil to the béchamel if you prefer to have a non-vegetarian dish.