Baked Ziti Recipe
garlic cream, mother sauce, italian sausage, ricotta cheese blend
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Ingredients
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Pasta
Sauce
Filling
Method
Pasta Preparation
- 1
Cook the Ziti
In a large pot, bring salted water to a boil. Add the ziti pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
Sauce Preparation
- 2
Make the Garlic Cream Sauce
In a medium saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir in the heavy cream and bring to a gentle simmer. Add the crushed tomatoes, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Let the sauce simmer for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Filling Preparation
- 3
Cook the Italian Sausage
In a skillet over medium heat, cook the Italian sausage until browned and cooked through, breaking it apart with a spoon. Drain any excess fat.
- 4
Mix the Cheese Filling
In a large bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, half of the mozzarella cheese, half of the Parmesan cheese, and chopped fresh basil. Mix until well combined.
Assembly and Baking
- 5
Layer the Baked Ziti
Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). In a 9x13 inch baking dish, spread a layer of the garlic cream sauce on the bottom. Add half of the cooked ziti, followed by half of the sausage and half of the cheese filling. Top with another layer of sauce. Repeat the layers, finishing with the remaining sauce on top.
- 6
Add Remaining Cheese
Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese on top of the final layer of sauce.
- 7
Bake
Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake for 25 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 15 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and golden.