Italian Grandma Baked Ziti
so what? No Fuckin’ Ziti now?
Full Recipe Video:
Servings: 8
Ingredients:
1 lb. box ziti pasta
1 lb. whole milk ricotta cheese, drained
12 oz. fresh mozzarella; cubed
1/2 lb. shredded mozarella
6-8 cups marinara sauce
1/2 cup Pecorino Romano (Locatelli)
Preheat oven to 400.
Bring water to a boil in a large pot, salt water, and cook pasta al dente (about 8 minutes - you want it very al dente as it will continue to cook in the oven). (See recipe: How to Cook Pasta Al Dente) Drain water and set aside.
Heat marinara sauce in a large skillet - bring to a simmer.
Add ricotta to the sauce, mixing in lighting so there is still texture in the cheese. You don’t want the cheese fully mixed into the sauce. Reduce heat.
Pour your cooked pasta to a large bowl. If your pasta starts to stick together, drizzle a little olive oil over it and stir. Add fresh cubed mozzarella to your pasta and stir together.
Remove your skillet with sauce from the stove top - you are going to start layering sauce and pasta in a baking dish, so you likely will want all your ingredients in one space.
In a 9x13 baking dish, ladle of layer of sauce in the bottom of the dish.
Add a layer of the pasta and cheese mixture on top of the sauce layer. Using a spoon, make sure the pasta layer is even.
Add a layer of pecorino Romano on top of the pasta.
Add another layer of sauce.
Add a layer of shredded mozzarella.
Add another layer of pasta/cheese mixture and spread evenly.
Add another layer of sauce.
Add another layer of pecorino Romano.
Top with a layer of shredded mozzarella.
Put ziti in the oven and bake for 30 mins.
Remove from oven and let rest for 5-10 mins to allow pasta to set. Cut into square pieces and enjoy!
Tools:
Baking Dish: Sur La Table Baker, 4 Qt.
