Baked Ziti

Unbalanced

% Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet

Step 1

Preheat oven to 375°F

Step 2

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add ziti, and cook, stirring occasionally, for about 10 minutes. When done, drain and tossed with 1 tablespoon olive oil.

Step 3

Brown ground beef in 2 tablespoons olive oil. Reduce heat to medium and add garlic and onion. Stir often until softened for about three minutes.

Step 4

Stir in plum tomatoes and marinara sauce. Cover and simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally until slightly thickened (10 to 12 minutes).

Step 5

Set aside 3 cups of the Ragu.

Step 6

Add ricotta, cream, salt, crushed red pepper, 2 cups of the mozzarella, and 1/2 cup of the Parmesan to remaining Ragu in the Dutch oven. Stir to combine.

Step 7

Add cooked ziti and stir until thoroughly combined.

Step 8

Spread one cup of the reserved Ragu in the bottom of a 13 x 9” baking dish. Spoon half of the ziti mixture over the Ragu.

Step 9

Spoon one cup of the reserved Ragu over ziti mixture. Spoon remaining ziti mixture over Ragu.

Step 10

Spread remaining one cup reserved Ragu over ziti mixture, and sprinkle with remaining one cup mozzarella and 1/4 cup Parmesan.

Step 11

Bake and covered in preheated oven until cheese melted and browned in spots about 20 to 25 minutes. Let cool for five minutes and garnish with parsley.