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Ziti to Meet You

Baked Ziti with Crumbled Italian Sausage, Crushed Tomatoes, and Fresh Basil

40 minutes
Serves 4
DinnerItalian
Herb's take

Classic baked ziti, Italian-American comfort at its finest, gets a rustic upgrade with hand-crushed tomatoes and a bold fennel-sausage kick. You’ll master the art of balancing acidity and herbs in a bubbling, cheesy casserole, molto bene.

Equipment needed
  • Large ovenproof skillet or Dutch oven

Ingredients

Yield
4

Instructions

  1. 01
    Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
  2. 02
    Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the ziti for 2 minutes less than package instructions for al dente. Drain and set aside.
  3. 03
    Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a large ovenproof skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the Italian sausage and break up with a spatula, cooking until browned and just cooked through, about 5-6 minutes.
  4. 04
    Stir in the onion and cook until softened, about 3 minutes. Add the garlic and sauté until fragrant, 30 seconds.
  5. 05
    Hand-crush the whole peeled tomatoes directly into the pan, then add all tomato juices from the can. Stir in crushed red pepper flakes, dried oregano, kosher salt, black pepper, and sugar. Simmer uncovered for 7 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  6. 06
    Remove from heat and stir in chopped basil. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary.
  7. 07
    Add the drained ziti to the sauce and toss until evenly mixed. Dollop ricotta over the pasta in small spoonfuls, then sprinkle mozzarella and Parmesan evenly on top.
  8. 08
    Transfer to the oven and bake until the cheese is bubbling and golden in spots, 12-14 minutes.
  9. 09
    Let rest 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with additional fresh basil.

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