Ingredients: |
Ingredients: 1 lb. ziti
2 cups (16 oz.) ricotta cheese, divided in half
1 cup+ (8 oz.) shredded mozzarella cheese, divided in half
½ cup grated parmesan cheese, divided in half
1 egg
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 28 oz. can crushed tomatoes with juice
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
⅓ cup fresh basil leaves, packed, plus more for garnishing, finely chopped
salt and pepper, to taste
Vegetarian Sausage Crumbles (Optional)
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Directions: |
Directions:1. Cook ziti in a large pot of lightly salted water. Drain, rinse under cold water, and set aside.
2. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions and garlic, sauté for 3 minutes. Add crushed tomatoes, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper to taste, and chopped basil leaves. Let the sauce simmer on low for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and let cool (makes about 2 ½ cups).
3. Preheat oven to 375º. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish and set aside.
4. In a large bowl, mix together 1 cup ricotta cheese, ½ cup mozzarella cheese, ¼ cup parmesan cheese and egg. Season with salt and pepper. Stir in about 1 ½ cups cooked tomato sauce. Pour pasta into the bowl with the cheese mixture and toss to coat. Add and mix sausage if desired.
5. To assemble the casserole, add half of the coated pasta to a baking dish, then dot the surface with ½ cup of ricotta cheese. Add the rest of the pasta and sauce on top and press the pasta down gently so it doesn't stick above the sauce too much. Top with dollops of the remaining ricotta cheese and sprinkle on top with the remaining mozzarella and parmesan cheese.
6. Bake uncovered for 20 minutes, or until lightly browned and bubbling around the edges. Remove from oven and let stand 5 minutes before serving. Sprinkle with additional fresh chopped basil, if desired, and serve. |
This recipe for Baked Ziti is from