Cheesy pasta goodness! A cross between lasagna and spaghetti!
Ready to eat!
Ziti is one of my son’s favorite meals.
The basic no-frills recipe.
Note: For super fast prep time, I buy pre-shredded cheese and the marina sauce,
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1 pound al dente ziti
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12 oz ricotta
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2 eggs
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3/4 cup grated parmesan
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2 Tbsp chopped parsley
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3 cups ( a jar and 1/2) of marina sauce
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8 oz shredded mozzarella
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salt and pepper to taste. ( personally I think bottled sauce has plenty of salt, so I just
add pepper) -
Optional mix-ins
- 1 lb cooked ground beef, or chicken, or spicy Italian sausage (remove casing and brown on stove top)
- 3-4 chopped roasted garlic ( or saute a tablespoon of minced garlic in butter)
- Italian seasoning like sage, thyme, basil, rosemary, or Italian spice mix ( fresh is best but who can get to the grocery store every day?)
- red pepper flakes ( to taste)
- top with fresh sliced tomatoes
Combine ricotta eggs, 1/2 cup Parmesan and spread enough sauce on bottom of 9 X 13-inch glass pan to prevent pasta from sticking. Layer ziti and mixture and mozzarella Top layer should be mozzarella and remainder of Parmesan. I top my ziti with sliced tomatoes and more mozzarella.
Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until cheesy is melt-licious and sauce is bubbling.
Mmmmm.
Before it goes into the oven
This recipe makes A LOT of food, and without the meat, the 9 x 13 pan is brimming.
Enjoy!
