Sure! Here’s the recipe for “Surprising Baked Ziti” that you requested:
Surprising Baked Ziti ๐
Description: Dive into the delightful surprise of this baked ziti recipe that’s bound to become a family favorite!
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Servings: 4
Ingredients:
| Quantity | Ingredient |
|---|---|
| 1/2 | Ziti pasta |
| 2 | Olive oil |
| 1 | Onion |
| 6 | Minced garlic cloves |
| 1 | Ricotta cheese |
| 1/3 | Parmesan cheese |
| 2 | Crushed tomatoes |
| 1/4 | Salt |
| – | Bay leaf |
| 1/2 | Fresh black pepper |
| 1/2 | Mozzarella cheese |
| 1/4 | Pesto sauce |
Instructions:
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Preheat Oven: Begin by preheating your oven to 350ยฐF (175ยฐC).
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Prepare Baking Dish: Grease an 8×8 baking dish with olive oil.
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Cook Pasta: Cook the ziti pasta in salted water for about 7 minutes until al dente. Drain and rinse it under cold water to stop the cooking process.
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Prepare Sauce: In a pan, heat 1 1/2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium-low heat. Add the onion and cook until translucent. Then, add the minced garlic and cook for another 30 seconds. Stir in the crushed tomatoes, salt, and bay leaf. Increase the heat to medium and simmer the mixture for about 10 minutes or until it thickens considerably. Remove the bay leaf and stir in 1/4 teaspoon of black pepper.
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Prepare Cheese Mixture: In a separate bowl, combine the pesto sauce, half of the parmesan cheese, ricotta cheese, 1 cup of mozzarella cheese, and the remaining black pepper.
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Layering: Spread half of the cooked pasta evenly in the prepared baking dish. Top it with one-third of the prepared sauce. Then, evenly spread the entire cheese mixture over the sauce layer. Cover this with the remaining pasta, sauce, and cheese.
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Final Touch: Drizzle the remaining olive oil over the top layer of cheese.
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Bake: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for approximately 30 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbling and golden brown.
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Rest and Serve: Once baked, let the ziti stand for at least 10 minutes before cutting into portions. This allows the flavors to meld together perfectly.
Enjoy the creamy, cheesy goodness of this surprising baked ziti recipe! Serve it hot and watch it disappear within minutes. It’s sure to be a hit at any gathering or weeknight dinner. ๐
