Cheesy Baked Ziti
I got the idea to make ziti from The Sopranos. Silly, I know. They always talked about their baked ziti, so I googled it and got an idea of what it was supposed to be. I threw this recipe together and have been making it, or variations of it, for about 5 years now. In those 5 years, I have never measured any of the ingredients – I just kind of put a little of this and a little of that! So, try this recipe and keep in mind that you can add to or take away anything you want. It’s almost impossible to mess it up : ) It’s all about making a recipe your own!
Ingredients:
- 1 pound of tube pasta
- 16 to 24 ounces cottage cheese
- 2 eggs
- ½ cup parmesan cheese
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese
- 16 to 24 ounces pasta sauce
First, let me explain the ingredients. Any tube pasta works. Penne is probably the easiest tube pasta to find. I use cottage cheese instead of ricotta cheese because I prefer the taste and texture. Ricotta cheese is much more rich and creamy, cottage cheese is more subtle. Use whichever you like – it will turn out great with either. On the measurements… if it is your first time making this ziti, I suggest using 16 ounces of cottage cheese. If you like it and would want more cottage cheese flavor, try it next time with more. I think the cottage cheese throws some people off – it doesn’t taste like you stuck your spoon in a bowl of cottage cheese. It has a very different flavor in this dish. As far as the pasta sauce goes, it just depends how much sauce you like.
Preheat your oven to 350° and start boiling your water for your pasta. You want to cook it as directed on the box, but you really only need it to be al dente. It will cook the rest of the way in the oven. While your pasta is cooking, spray a large baking dish with cooking spray. In a medium size bowl, beat your egg and then add in the cottage cheese and parmesan cheese.
Now, you don’t need to add many seasonings to this dish because your sauce should have most of the flavor. However, I like to add a little pepper, garlic powder and some dried Italian herbs to my cottage cheese mixture.
Once your pasta is al dente, drain it and return it to the pan. Mix in your pasta sauce with your pasta. Once all of your pasta is coated, pour about half of this mixture into your baking dish.
Pour your cottage cheese mixture on top of your pasta.
Top this with the rest of your pasta and sauce.
Now take your 2 cups of mozzarella and cover the pasta with it.
Bake this, uncovered, for about 40 minutes – or until the top turns a golden brown. The top crunchy part is my favorite thing about this dish, so I always let mine cook a little longer so it is extra crispy.
And that is it! This cheesy baked ziti is very simple and totally delicious. You could easily add vegetables or meat to your sauce or change the cottage cheese for ricotta cheese – it will have a totally different flavor.
Have you ever gotten an idea for a meal from a TV show? The Sopranos have some great looking pasta dishes – wish I had all those recipes!
Also, are you looking for some great kitchen items? I have linked through Amazon some of my kitchen favorites on the right side of my blog page. Check them out! I can’t live without most of them.
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