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baked ziti with italian sausage and eggplant

(3 ratings)
Blue Ribbon Recipe by
Angela Hardesty
Colorado Springs, CO

Awesome dish!

Blue Ribbon Recipe

Baked ziti is delicious with layers of marinara, pasta, and cheese. This recipe uses a homemade Italian sausage meat sauce that's hearty and perfectly seasoned. We love adding pan-fried eggplant to the layers. The eggplant and pasta absorb the meat sauces Italian flavor. Super cheesy, serve this baked ziti with garlic bread for a tasty family meal.

— The Test Kitchen @kitchencrew
(3 ratings)
yield 5 -6
prep time 30 Min
cook time 30 Min
method Bake

Ingredients For baked ziti with italian sausage and eggplant

  • 1 lg
    eggplant, sliced into about 1/3 inch thick circles
  • 1/2 c
    olive oil (plus more)
  • 1 lb
    Italian sausage, hot or mild
  • 1 c
    chopped onion
  • 1 can
    Italian style tomatoes (28 oz)
  • 2 Tbsp
    tomato paste
  • 1 tsp
    Italian seasoning
  • 4 Tbsp
    butter
  • 4 Tbsp
    all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 tsp
    cruhed red pepper flakes
  • 8 oz
    cooked ziti, drained
  • 2 c
    milk
  • 1 c
    shredded mozzarella
  • 1/8 tsp
    nutmeg
  • 1/2 c
    shredded/grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1/4 c
    basil, dried or 1/2 c fresh basil minced

How To Make baked ziti with italian sausage and eggplant

  • Spraying a casserole dish with non-stick spray.
    1
    Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly grease a 9 by 13-inch casserole dish.
  • Heating oil in a skillet.
    2
    In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat 1/4 cup of the oil.
  • Pan-frying the eggplant and seasoning.
    3
    Add the eggplant in batches, seasoning on both sides with salt and pepper, and cook until golden, adding more oil as needed.
  • Pan-fried eggplant on paper towels.
    4
    Transfer to a plate when each batch is done.
  • Oil, Italian sausage, and onions added to a skillet.
    5
    Heat 2 tablespoons of the remaining olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. When hot but not smoking, add the onion and sausage.
  • Browning the sausage and onions.
    6
    Cook, stirring until the sausage is browned and the onion is soft about 6 minutes.
  • Adding tomato paste to the browned meat.
    7
    Add the tomato paste and cook, stirring frequently, until it begins to brown.
  • Tomatoes and seasonings added to the browned meat.
    8
    Add the tomatoes, their juices, the Italian seasoning, 1 teaspoon of salt, and the crushed red pepper.
  • Sauce simmering on the stove.
    9
    Reduce the heat to medium-low and gently simmer, uncovered, until the flavors marry and the sauce slightly thickens, about 20 minutes.
  • Adding basil to the meat sauce.
    10
    Remove from the heat. Add the basil and adjust seasoning, to taste.
  • Cooking flour and butter.
    11
    Meanwhile, melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Stir in the flour and cook, stirring constantly, until thickened and forms a light roux, about 2 minutes.
  • Whisking in milk.
    12
    Whisk in the milk and, whisking frequently, cook until the sauce is thickened and smooth, about 4 minutes.
  • Nutmeg, salt, and pepper added to the sauce.
    13
    Remove from the heat and season with the nutmeg and salt and pepper, to taste.
  • Layer of eggplant added to the baking dish.
    14
    Arrange half of the eggplant slices on the bottom of the casserole, overlapping as necessary.
  • Half the ziti and meat sauce layered in the casserole dish.
    15
    Top with half of the cooked pasta; then half of the sausage-tomato sauce.
  • Another layer of eggplant added to the casserole dish.
    16
    Place another layer of eggplant slices on top of the sauce.
  • Another layer of ziti and meat sauce added to the casserole dish.
    17
    Then layers of pasta and sausage-tomato sauce.
  • White sauce poured on the meat sauce.
    18
    Pour on the white sauce.
  • Grated mozzarella and Parmesan cheese sprinkled on top.
    19
    Then top with the grated mozzarella and Parmesan.
  • Baked Ziti With Italian Sausage and Eggplant baked until golden brown.
    20
    Bake for 35 minutes, or until puffed and golden brown on top.
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