Recipe Catalog

Baked Ziti

Baked ziti is a popular casserole with ziti pasta and a Neapolitan-style tomato-based sauce characteristic of Italian American cuisine.

by Lesley Hazleton

Serves: 4

Ingredients

1 pound Ziti pasta
1 1/2 pounds italian sausage (mild)
1 1/2 pound mozzarella
1 pound goat cheese (no spicing)
1 egg
1 Tbsp oregano
2 tsp basil
1 tsp thyme
1 Tbsp garlic salt
Grated parmesan or other hard Italian cheese such as Romano or Asiago - need about 1/2 cup
2 Tbsp parsley (dried)

Sauce:
1 28 ounce can tomato puree
1 15 ounce can crushed tomatoes
1 15 ounce can diced tomatoes
1 Tbsp oregano leaf
1 tsp oregano ground
2 tsp basil
1 tsp thyme
1 tsp white pepper
1 Tbsp basalmic vinegar
2 tsp garlic salt

Instructions

First put the ziti noodles on to boil. Cook them for 2/3's of the recommended time on the package.

Next make the sauce by combining all ingredients for the sauce into a sauce pan and simmering for 15 minutes.

Next begin browning off the Italian sausage. Remove sausage from casing and break it up. Brown until cooked through.

Take the mozzarella cheese and cut into cubes. Mix in goat cheese. Wisk egg until well blended and add to the cheese mixture. Add oregano, basil, thyme and garlic salt. Mix with spoon until cheese and other ingredients are well blended.

In a large lasgana pan, make a layer of noodles, add a layer of sausage, add a layer of cheese and then 1/3 of the sauce. Make a second layer in the same manner. The third layer should just be noodles and sauce. Sprinkle parmesian and parsley across the top.

Bake in over at 350 degrees for 30 to 45 minutes.