mamma maria's baked ziti, pasta al forno
This recipe comes from my mom. She was the best cook. She taught me how to cook, and she taught me well. She used to make this dish for Sunday dinner a lot. Although she is no longer with us, I still make it. My kids love it when I make the ziti, and so does my husband, and he's Irish. Lol~ It's very filling because of the ingredients in it. I am also going to include mom's sauce too with it. It takes a little time, but it's not that hard to make.
Blue Ribbon Recipe
This baked ziti recipe is super hearty and filling. A great dinner if you're serving a crowd. The homemade sauce does not have the typical seasoning you expect in an Italian dish so it's slightly sweeter than what you'd expect in sauce. When combined with the savory cheese, the sweet sauce is a perfect combination. Diced hard-boiled eggs and peas aren't a traditional ingredient, but we liked them in this ziti. Compared to the pasta, there isn't a lot of meat in this recipe. The pasta is the real star of this dish.
Ingredients
- 2 pounds ziti, cooked
- 3 - eggs, hard boiled
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 can peas, 15 oz.
- 1 package shredded mozzarella, 16 oz.
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- INGREDIENTS FOR MOM'S SAUCE
- 1 can tomato puree, 28 oz.
- 4 tablespoons sugar
- 2-3 sprigs basil, fresh
- 1 small onion, sliced thin
- 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil or vegetable oil
- 1 can water (empty puree can)
How To Make mamma maria's baked ziti, pasta al forno
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Step 1Start by making the sauce. In a big pot, heat oil. Add onions and cook until lightly browned. -
Step 2Add tomato puree.
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Step 3Use an empty sauce can and fill with water add to the sauce.
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Step 4Cook sauce in medium heat for 10 minutes or so then add sugar, basil and stir, continue to cook the sauce for another 30 minutes stirring occasionally.
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Step 5Preheat oven at 375 degrees F. Brown ground beef and drain fat.
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Step 6Chop boiled eggs.
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Step 7Cook pasta as directed; make it a little al dente. Drain pasta and put it back in the pot.
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Step 8Add ground beef and peas to the sauce.
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Step 9Pour enough sauce to lightly coat the pasta. Make sure you divide the sauce so you can have enough for the baking preparation.
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Step 10In a 13x9 pan, pour a scoop of sauce and spread it all around the pan.
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Step 11Add half of the pasta. Layer the eggs on top of every section of the pasta.
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Step 12Then with a teaspoon, layer the ricotta on every section of the pasta until the whole cup is gone.
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Step 13Add half the sauce on top.
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Step 14Then sprinkle half of the grated Parmesan cheese and a half bag of mozzarella.
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Step 15Pour the remaining pasta on top and add the sauce.
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Step 16Top grated cheese and mozzarella. Cover loosely with aluminum foil and cook for about 30 to 40 minutes or until golden brown and bubbly. Remove the foil for the last 10 minutes to allow to slightly brown. Mom used to let it sit for about 10 minutes so when you would cut portions they wouldn't fall apart.
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Step 17You can choose whatever item you like in the ziti... but we love it just like that... it's filling and it's good.
- 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!
