Creamy Baked Ziti

Here's a great recipe for a rainy, cold day. It's from Cook's Illustrated, and makes traditional Baked Ziti a little more interesting (and a little more fattening!). I did change the recipe a little - I used ricotta cheese rather than cottage, but you could use either.  Also, I added 1 lb of cooked ground beef to the sauce - cuz I had some hungry guys to feed.

 

Served with tossed salad and crusty Italian Bread.

 

Baked Ziti

serves 8-10

(photo via)

• 1 lb 1% fat ricotta cheese
• 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 3 ounces Parmesan cheese, grated
• salt
• 1 lb Zita pasta
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 5 medium garlic cloves, minced
• 1 (28 ounce) cans tomato sauce
• 1 (14 1/2 ounce) cans diced tomatoes
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• black pepper
• 3/4 teaspoon cornstarch
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 8 ounces mozzarella cheese, cut into 1/4 inch pieces

Directions

1. Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 350°F. Whisk cottage cheese, eggs and 1 cup Parmesan together in medium bowl and set aside. Bring 4 quarts of water to boil in large Dutch oven over high heat. Stir in 1 Tablespoon salt and pasta; cook, stirring occasionally, until pasta begins to soften but is not yet cooked through, 5 to 7 minutes. Drain pasta and leave in colander.
2. Meanwhile, heat oil and garlic in a large skillet over medium heat until garlic is fragrant but not brown. Stir in tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, and oregano; simmer until thickened, about 10 minutes. Off heat, stir in 1/2 cup basil and sugar, then season with salt and pepper.
3. Stir cornstarch into heavy cream in small bowl, transfer mixture to Dutch oven set over medium heat. Bring to simmer and cook until thickened, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove pot from heat and add ricotta cheese mixture, 1 cup tomato sauce and 3/4 cup mozzarella, then stir to combine. Add pasta and stir to coat.
4. Transfer pasta mixture to 13 x 9 inch baking dish and spread remaining tomato sauce evenly over pasta. Sprinkle with remaining 3/4 cup mozzarella and remaining 1/2 cup Parmesan over top. Cover baking dish tightly with foil and bake for 30 minutes.
5. Remove foil and continue to cook until cheese is bubbling and beginning to brown, about 30 minutes longer. Cool for 20 minutes. Sprinkle with remaining 3 Tablespoons basil and serve.

 

Need a baking pan? These are awesome, and look pretty too! Serve right in the dish!