Ziti al Forno-Baked Ziti with Meat sauce Recipe 

For holidays or Italian Sundays, Ziti al Forno-Baked Ziti with Meat Sauce is a family favorite. The pasta al forno casserole is baked until bubbly and cheesy. The best Italian comfort food!

Ingredient

– For the Meat Sauce: – 3 Tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil – ¼ cup of onion chopped – 2 stalks celery diced – 2 carrot diced – 2 cloves garlic minced – 1 ½ pounds lean ground beef  – 1 cup dry white wine – 2-28 ounce can of crushed tomatoe – 6 fresh basil leave – 2 ½ teaspoons sea salt – ¼ teaspoon black pepper – For the Ricotta Layer: – 2 pounds ricotta cheese – 2 egg – 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese – ½ cup grated Pecorino Romano or Parmegiano-Reggiano cheese – 1 Tablespoon finely minced Italian parsley leave – Sea salt and ground black pepper – For the Pasta: – 16 ounces ziti – ½ cup grated Pecorino-Romano or Parmegiano Reggiano – 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese – Fresh basil leave

Direction

Burst

1

To make the sauce, heat oil in a medium-sized sauce pan or Dutch oven on medium heat. Add onion and cook 2 minutes. Continue cooking for 5 minutes with celery, carrot, and garlic. Add beef and sauté, stirring often.

Wavy Line
Burst

2

Broken lumps should be pink-free after 10 minutes. Stir tomatoes, parsley, and basil over medium-low heat until thickened. Simmer wine and remaining ingredients.I simmer ragu 2 hours. To thin, add water while simmering. A day early.

Wavy Line
Burst

3

To prepare the ricotta filling, place it in a medium bowl. Stir in eggs, cheeses, parsley, and salt and pepper to taste until combined. Store in the fridge until assembly.

Wavy Line
Burst

4

For pasta, boil a large pot of salted water. Add pasta and cook 7 minutes until barely al dente. If bit into, pasta should be firm but uncooked. Drain pasta and put in big bowl. Stirred olive oil-coated pasta makes assembly easier.

Wavy Line
Burst

5

Preheat the oven to 375°F for ziti assembly. Spray a 9X13 with 2-inch sides or 15X10 (4.5 quart) baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.Cover sauce. One ziti layer.

Wavy Line
Burst

6

Spread half of the ricotta filling (with fresh basil leaves on top if using) over the pasta and carefully spread with a metal spatula to cover. Spread sauce over filling and sprinkle 1/3 grated cheese.

Wavy Line
Burst

7

Layer ziti, ricotta filling, sauce, and cheese again. Apply remaining ziti to top. Apply a thin layer of sauce and top with remaining cheese. Position rack in oven center.

Wavy Line
Burst

8

Give pasta and broccoli sauce. Put pasta on a platter. Apply 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil. Garnish optional: Use dairy-free vegan parmesan. You can add chopped Italian parsley (or fresh basil) and red pepper flakes. Enjoy!

Wavy Line

also see

also see

Orecchiette Pasta with Broccoli Sauce Recipe