baked ziti
(1 RATING)
I wanted to make something yummy for my sister after her recent shoulder surgery, so I started thinking about some sort of baked pasta dish. I came up with this one and she loved it! It looks like a lot of ingredients, but it comes together really quickly. This recipe will make two 9x13 pans - one to freeze!
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prep time
30 Min
cook time
1 Hr 15 Min
method
Bake
yield
8 serving(s)
Ingredients
- SAUCE
- 1/4 cup olive oil, extra virgin
- 1 medium sweet onion, chopped
- 1 teaspoon salt (i use kosher salt)
- 1 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground if possible
- 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
- 4 - anchovies, chopped
- 28 oz. cans whole italian tomatoes
- 2 jars classico tomato and basil spaghetti sauce
- 1 tablespoon italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes (more or less, to taste)
- 1/2 cup red wine
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 pound ground pork
- PASTA
- 2 pounds ziti pasta
- 1 large container whole milk ricotta cheese
- 10 ounces frozen chopped spinach, thawed, liquid squeezed out
- 1 cup shredded parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon salt (i use kosher salt)
- 2 teaspoons black pepper, freshly ground if possible
- TOPPING
- 1 cup italian cheese blend or shredded parmesan and mozzarella combined
How To Make baked ziti
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Step 1In a large Dutch oven or saucepan on medium heat, saute the onions, seasoned with salt and pepper, in the olive oil until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and anchovies and stir until anchovies are broken up and incorporated into the mixture.
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Step 2Add tomatoes, breaking them up by squeezing or with a wooden spoon. Cook mixture until tomatoes are warmed and then add both jars of spaghetti sauce. Add Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes and wine.
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Step 3Add beef and pork, stirring until meat is broken up and incorporated into sauce. It will break up very finely since it has not been precooked.
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Step 4Turn heat to med-low and simmer sauce for about 45 min.
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Step 5While sauce cooks, cook ziti in salted boiling water for about a minute less than package directions for al dente.
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Step 6Mix ricotta, 1 cup Parmesan, spinach, salt and pepper in large bowl. When ziti is done cooking, drain and add it to the cheese mixture and mix well.
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Step 7Put about 1 cup sauce in the bottom of each 9x13 pan, divide ziti mixture evenly between pans and top with sauce - about 3 cups, more if you prefer.
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Step 8Bake in 350 degree oven for 30-35 min., adding cheese topping 10 minutes before baking time is done.
- Last Step: Don't forget to share! Post a picture of your finished recipe here and on your favorite social network. Don't forget to tag Just A Pinch and include #justapinchrecipes!
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