BAKED ZITI
This baked ziti is layered almost like a lasagna to ensure every bite has enough creamy ricotta, stringy mozzarella and tangy tomato sauce. But the key to its success comes from undercooking the pasta during the initial boil so it stays perfectly al dente, even after a trip to the oven. Heavy cream is added to prevent the ricotta from becoming grainy or dry during baking, letting it be its most luscious self. While this baked ziti is meatless (there's plenty of richness from the cheese - three types, to be exact), you could always incorporate a bit of sausage, ground meat or pancetta, if you like. Simply add 1/2 pound to the onions while sautéeing and proceed with the recipe.
Provided by Alison Roman
Categories dinner, casseroles, main course
Time 2h
Yield 6 to 8 servings
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Make the tomato sauce: Heat oil in a large, heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat. Add onion and garlic and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is totally softened and translucent (without letting it brown), 8 to 10 minutes. Add tomato paste and continue to cook, stirring until it has turned a deeper brick-red color, tinting the oil and onions a fiery orange color, about 2 minutes. Crush the whole tomatoes by hand and add them (including the juice) and the tomato purée to the pot, stirring to scrape up any bits from the bottom of the pot. Season with salt and pepper and add red pepper flakes, if using. Bring to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until the tomato sauce has thickened and flavors have come together, 20 to 30 minutes.
- Prepare the filling: In a medium bowl, combine ricotta, heavy cream and 1/2 cup Parmesan. Season with salt and pepper and set aside.
- Prepare the pasta: As the sauce cooks, heat oven to 425 degrees, and place a large pot of salted water to boil on the stove.
- Cook pasta until it's nearly al dente. (You want to undercook the pasta slightly, as it will continue to cook in the oven. A good way to do this is cook it 2 minutes less than you normally would if preparing it al dente.) Reserving 1 cup of the pasta cooking liquid, drain pasta and rinse with cool water; set aside while the tomato sauce finishes cooking.
- Once tomato sauce is done, stir in reserved pasta water.
- Place pasta in a large bowl and add 2 cups sauce. Stir to coat pasta evenly encouraging the sauce to go inside each tube.
- Spoon a bit of remaining sauce on the bottom of a 3-quart baking dish and top with 1/3 of the pasta. Spoon 1/3 of the remaining sauce on top, dollop with half the ricotta mixture and scatter 1/3 of the mozzarella on top of that. Repeat, beginning with the pasta, one more time. For the final layer, add the last 1/3 of pasta and the last of the sauce. Dot remaining mozzarella on top and shave a bit more Parmesan on top of that. Place baking dish on top of a sheet pan lined with parchment paper to catch any drips. Place in the oven and bake until the edges are golden brown and bubbling and the top has browned nicely, 30 to 40 minutes.
- Let cool slightly before eating with a big green leafy salad.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 682, UnsaturatedFat 15 grams, Carbohydrate 60 grams, Fat 36 grams, Fiber 6 grams, Protein 32 grams, SaturatedFat 18 grams, Sodium 983 milligrams, Sugar 11 grams
BAKED ZITI
Baked ziti is classic Italian-American comfort food! Bake ziti pasta with sausage, tomato sauce, and all kinds of gooey, yummy cheeses. This easy baked ziti recipe is always a hit!
Provided by Elise Bauer
Categories Dinner Budget Casserole Comfort Food Freezer-friendly Make-ahead Pantry Meal Casserole Cheese Italian Italian Sausage Pasta
Time 1h15m
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Preheat the oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Cook the pasta: Heat a large pot of salted water (for every 2 quarts of water, one tablespoon of salt) to a strong boil. Add the pasta and cook at a rolling boil, uncovered, until the pasta is al dente-edible but still a little firm to the bite. Drain the pasta through a colander. Toss with a little olive oil so the pasta does not stick together while you make the sauce.
- Brown the meat: While the water is heating in the previous step, start on the sauce. Heat a tablespoon of olive oil in a large sauté pan on medium-high heat. When the oil is shimmering hot, add the bulk sausage or ground meat. Break up any large chunks of sausage as it cooks. Brown well. Don't stir that often or it will be more difficult for the meat to brown. If you are using ground beef or pork instead of sausage, sprinkle with a little salt.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 557 kcal, Carbohydrate 36 g, Cholesterol 78 mg, Fiber 4 g, Protein 30 g, SaturatedFat 14 g, Sodium 1510 mg, Sugar 9 g, Fat 32 g, ServingSize Serves at least 8, UnsaturatedFat 0 g
BAKED ZITI
For an Italian classic, try this Baked Ziti recipe from Food Network Kitchen. Tossed in a zesty tomato sauce and oozing with mozzarella, it couldn't be easier.
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Categories main-dish
Time 50m
Yield 6 to 8 servings
Number Of Ingredients 16
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil, salt generously and boil the pasta until al dente (tender but still slightly firm). Drain.
- Toss the cooked pasta with the quick tomato sauce, cubed mozzarella, half the Parmesan, all of the black pepper and crushed red pepper in a large bowl. Transfer the pasta to the prepared baking dish. Cover the top of the pasta with the sliced mozzarella and sprinkle with the remaining Parmesan. Bake until lightly browned and hot, about 30 minutes. Serve immediately.
- Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Cook the sausage until beginning to brown, about 3 minutes. Add the onion and garlic, stirring, until lightly browned, about 3 minutes more. Add the tomatoes and the herb sprigs and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer, covered, for 10 minutes.
- Remove and discard the herb sprigs. Stir in 2 teaspoons salt and season with pepper. Use now or store covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 2 months.
BAKED ZITI WITH SPECIAL TOMATO SAUCE
This sauce has a secret ingredient, grape or currant jelly, that's right, jelly! I use the unsweetened kind, I find the fruit takes the acidity out of the tomatoes.
Provided by Manami
Categories One Dish Meal
Time 1h8m
Yield 6-8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 18
Steps:
- QUICK TOMATO SAUCE:
- Make this first; heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat.
- Cook the sausages until begining to brown, about 3 minutes.
- Add the onion and garlic, stirring, until lightly browned, about 3 minutes more.
- Add the tomatoes, thyme and jelly or preserves and bring to a boil.
- Lower the heat and simmer, covered, for 10 minutes.
- Remove and sicard the sprig of thyme.
- Stir in the seasoning and season with pepper, to taste.
- Use now or store covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 dayse or freeze up to 2 months. The yield is 5 cups.
- ZITI:.
- Preheat oven to 400ºF.
- Cook the ziti according to pkg directions.
- Drain.
- Toss the cooked pasta with the sauce, cubed mozzarella, half of the Parmesan cheese, black pepper and red pepper flakes.
- Transfer the pasta to an oiled 9x13" baking dish.
- Cover the top of the pasta with the sliced mozzarella, and sprinkle with the remaining Parmesan.
- Bake until lightly browned and hot, about 30 minutes.
- Serve at once.
BAKED ZITI WITH FRESH TOMATOES
I prepare the meat sauce ahead of time, so it saves precious moments when we come in after working out in the fields! -Barbara Johnson, Decker, Indiana
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 1h40m
Yield 6 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- In a Dutch oven, cook the beef and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Stir in the tomatoes, salt, basil and pepper. Reduce heat to low; cover and cook for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally., Cook ziti according to package directions; drain. Place in a large bowl. Stir in sauce and 1 cup mozzarella cheese. Transfer to a greased 3-qt. baking dish; sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and remaining mozzarella cheese. , Cover and bake at 350° for 15 minutes. Uncover; bake 15 minutes longer or until heated through.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 375 calories, Fat 14g fat (7g saturated fat), Cholesterol 60mg cholesterol, Sodium 851mg sodium, Carbohydrate 33g carbohydrate (5g sugars, Fiber 2g fiber), Protein 29g protein.
ZITI AL FORNO (FROM THE SOPRANOS FAMILY COOKBOOK)
It's from the sopranos cookbook but I use my own Recipe #73937 and it is the best food in the world there aren't words to describe it!
Provided by Bri22
Categories One Dish Meal
Time 1h15m
Yield 16 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Put all the ziti in a large bowl.
- Toss ziti with 3 cups of the gravy and half of the grated cheese.
- Spoon half of the ziti into a casserole dish.
- Spread the ricotta over the top of the ziti.
- Sprinkle with the mozzarella and rest of grated cheese.
- Pour on 1 cup of sauce.
- Top with remaining ziti and rest of sauce (it will be almost overflowing) sprinkle with more grated cheese.
- Bake covered with foil for 45 minutes and then uncovered for 15 minutes.
- Let stand 15 minutes.
- Tell me immediately how it was!
Nutrition Facts : Calories 195.7, Fat 7, SaturatedFat 4.1, Cholesterol 24.6, Sodium 167.6, Carbohydrate 22.2, Fiber 0.9, Sugar 1, Protein 10.3
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