====== Baked Ziti ======
{{:recipes:casserole:baked-ziti-horiz-a2-1400.jpg?600|}}
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===== Ingredients =====
  * 1 pound ziti (can sub penne) pasta
  * Olive oil
  * 1 pound bulk Italian sausage or ground beef or pork
  * 1 large onion, chopped
  * 3-4 garlic cloves, chopped
  * 1 Tbsp fresh rosemary (or basil), minced
  * 1 Tbsp Italian seasoning
  * 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  * 1 large jar of marinara sauce (about 32 ounces) or make your own tomato sauce
  * 1/2 pound of mozzarella cheese, grated
  * 1 heaping cup of ricotta cheese
  * 1 cup grated parmesan or pecorino cheese
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===== Info =====
  * **Prep:** 15
  * **Cook:** 55
  * **Serves:** 8
  * [[http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/baked_ziti/|Source]]

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{(rater>id=4|name=recipes:casseroles:baked_ziti|type=rate|headline=off)}
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{{tag>pasta:penne pasta:ziti sausage tomato_sauce pasta_sauce mozarella cheese ricotta parmesan}}

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===== Directions =====
  - Preheat the oven to 350°F.
  - Boil the pasta: Heat a large pot of water (2 quarts of water) to a strong boil. Add a tablespoon of salt. 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.
  - Add onions and sauté, then add garlic, spices, then tomato sauce: When the meat is mostly browned, add the onions and stir well to combine. Sauté everything until the onions are translucent and beginning to brown, about 4-5 minutes
  - Add the garlic, rosemary or basil, Italian seasoning and red pepper flakes and stir to combine. Cook 1 minute, then add the tomato sauce and stir well. Bring to a simmer.
  - Layer sauce, cheese, pasta in casserole dish: Spread a thin layer of sauce in the bottom of a 9x13-inch casserole pan, then dot the surface with half the ricotta cheese. Ladle a spoonful of sauce into the pasta, stir it well and then add the pasta into the casserole.
  - Pour the rest of the sauce over the pasta, dot the remaining ricotta cheese over the pasta, and sprinkle on top both the mozzarella and the Parmesan cheese.
  - Bake 20 min: Bake in oven at 350°F until the top is lightly browned and the cheese melted, about 20 minutes.


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