No-Boil Tomato Basil Baked Ziti For The Busiest Of Days
| Summary | |
|---|---|
| Prep time | 30-45 min |
| Cook time | 45 min @ 375 |
| Source | HuffPost.com |
| Yield / serves | 4-6 servings |
| Rating | Very good |
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 pound loose, ground turkey or chicken sausage
- 2 tablespoons double-concentrated tomato paste
- 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- 8 ounces ziti pasta (can substitute penne pasta)
- 2 cups water
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup whole milk ricotta cheese
- 12 ounces low-moisture mozzarella, diced into 1/4-inch cubes (about 2 cups), divided
- 1 large egg, beaten
- 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, torn
- Kosher salt
- Red pepper flakes, optional
Preparation
Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
Heat olive oil in large saucepan over medium-high heat.
Add onion and garlic and sauté for 5 minutes, stirring often. Season with salt.
Add ground sausage and cook for 5 minutes, until browned and cooked through. Drain off any excess oil.
Add tomato paste and cook until it turns a deep red and starts to caramelize, about 2-3 minutes. Stir often to prevent it from burning.
Add canned tomatoes, Italian seasoning and 2 teaspoons kosher salt. Let simmer for 5 minutes then transfer to large bowl.
Add uncooked noodles, water, Parmesan, ricotta, 1 1/2 cups cubed mozzarella, beaten egg and basil leaves.
Transfer to a greased 9x13-inch baking dish. Cover with foil and bake for 45 minutes.
Remove cover, top with remaining mozzarella and bake an additional 10-15 minutes, until ziti has set and mozzarella has melted.
Let sit for 10 minutes before serving. Garnish with red pepper flakes if desired.
