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Best Baked Ziti Sicilian

Print Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings 8
Calories 462

Ingredients

Sauce Ingredients

  • 2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 pound sweet Italian sausage
  • 1 small yellow or white onion
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • Good pinch of cayenne pepper flakes more if desired
  • 1 tsp dried basil
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 1 can 28 ounces whole San Marzano tomatoes
  • Sea salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

Ziti Ingredients

  • 1 box 16 ounces ziti
  • 1 Tbsp kosher salt
  • Extra virgin olive oil for greasing the baking dish
  • 3-1/2 cups tomato sauce
  • 1 pound 16 ounces fresh buffalo mozzarella cheese
  • 3/4 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese divided
  • 1/2 tsp freshly ground pepper

Instructions

  • All ingredients ready? Let's begin!

Tomato Sauce Instructions

  • Remove the sausage from the casing. Finely chop the onion. Peel and mince the garlic.
  • In a saucepan over medium-high heat, heat the oil and cook the sausage, onions, and garlic until the sausage starts to brown, approximately 5 minutes. Break the meat up into smaller pieces with a spoon.
  • Add the cayenne, basil, and oregano. Cook until the spices and herbs are fragrant, approximately 1 minute.
  • Using your hands, crush the tomatoes into the saucepan. Add the liquid from the can. Lower the heat and cook the sauce at a low simmer for approximately 10 minutes until the excess liquid reduces. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Ziti Instructions

  • Fill a large stockpot with plenty of water to submerge the pasta in. Add the Kosher salt. Turn the heat to high. As soon as the water boils, add the pasta and cook until al dente – a little chewy. Drain the pasta and place it in a large mixing bowl.
  • Preheat your oven to 400°F.
  • Cut the mozzarella into ½ inch cubes.
  • Oil a large baking dish.
  • Add the mozzarella, ⅓ cup parmesan, 3 ½ cups tomato and sausage sauce, and pepper to the bowl of pasta. Stir to combine well.
  • Pour the pasta into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle the rest of the parmesan cheese over the top of the pasta.
  • Place the baking dish in the oven and bake until bubbling and golden brown on top, approximately 30 minutes.
  • Serve the pasta with a large spoon while hot.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 462kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 37g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 15g | Cholesterol: 94mg | Sodium: 2011mg | Potassium: 369mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 662IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 428mg | Iron: 2mg