Recipe- Mouthwatering Baked Ziti

Baked Ziti is so much more than just a Bolognese pasta bake…. It’s a big, juicy baked pasta that’s loaded with flavour from a healthy dose of seasonings and topped with a generous amount of cheese. Cosy food that’s easy enough for midweek yet worthy of company.

Ingredients

300g / 10oz ziti or penne pasta
1 tbsp olive oil
3 garlic cloves , minced
1 small onion (brown, white or yellow), finely chopped
500g / 1 lb ground beef or pork OR 50/50 combo
700g / 24 oz tomato passata
1/2 cup water
1 tsp EACH dried basil, oregano, sugar
1 cup ricotta , optional
1 cup grated mozzarella cheese (or other melting cheese)
1 cup parmesan , freshly grated (optional)
Finely chopped parsley or basil (optional garnish)

Seasonings:

2 tsp fennel seeds
1 tbsp paprika (plain or sweet)
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper OR 3/4 tsp chilli flakes (adjust to taste)
2 tsp onion powder
1 tsp EACH salt and black pepper

Method

- Cook ziti for the recommended cooking time on the packet MINUS 2 minutes. (Note 5) Drain, then return to pot.

- Preheat oven to 180C/350F.

- Make Sauce: Heat oil in a large skillet over high heat. Add onion and garlic and cook for 2 minutes or until onion is translucent.

- Add meat and cook, breaking it up as you go. When it is just cooked, add Seasonings and cook for 2 minutes.

- Add passata, water, basil, oregano and sugar. Bring to simmer, reduce heat to low and cook for 10 minutes. Adjust salt and pepper to taste (remember it gets spread across lots of pasta).

- Toss Ziti with Sauce: Pour about 2 cups of sauce into the pot with the ziti. Toss.

- Assemble: Spread ziti into baking dish (23x33cm / 9x13"). Dollop with ricotta. Pour over remaining sauce. Top with cheese and parmesan.

- Bake: Cover loosely with foil. Bake 20 minutes. Remove foil, bake further 10 to 15 minutes until cheese is golden.

- Serve: Sprinkle with parsley or basil if desired, then serve!