Baked Ziti
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 25 hour
Yield: 8-12 servings
Ingredients
1 pound Ground Turkey
¼ pound Italian Chicken Sausage, finely chopped (about 2 links; optional)
½ pound penne
28 oz can of unsalted crushed roma tomatoes
2 c shredded mozzarella cheese
1 c shredded parmesan cheese
1 ½ c whole milk ricotta cheese
1 tbsp tomato paste
1 tsp honey
3 sprigs Italian parsley, finely chopped
½ medium white onion, diced
6 garlic cloves, minced
Olive oil
Dried basil
Fennel seeds
Sea salt
Crushed red pepper
Garlic powder
Instructions
1. Cook Pasta: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Fill pot with water about ¾ way, then add salt to taste, about 1 tbsp of olive oil, and bring to a boil. Once water begins to boil, add noodles and cook until package’s instructions for al dente. Once cooked, strain noodles, run in cool water, then set aside.
2. Prep Ricotta: In the large bowl, combine ricotta cheese, parsley (leave about 1 tsp for garnish) , 1 tbsp garlic powder, and salt to taste. Set aside.
3. Cook Turkey and Marinara: Set pan on medium- high heat and add about 4 tbsp of olive oil or enough so that the pan is evenly coated. Once oil is heated, add about ½ tbsp salt, ½ tbsp of crushed red pepper, 2 tbsp garlic powder, 2 tbsp dried basil, and 1½ tsp fennel. Stir seasonings in oil, allowing the flavors to marry for about a minute, then add garlic and onions. After the garlic and onions release their oils (when you begin to smell them!), add the turkey meat (if meat begins to stick to the bottom of the pan at any point, add more olive oil). Change heat setting to medium (4-5) and allow the turkey to brown. After about 8 minutes, add chicken sausage. After three minutes or when the sausage begins to brown, add crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, and honey. Mix until the tomatoes are combined with sausage and turkey. Let simmer for about 5 minutes. Taste the sauce, and adjust seasonings as necessary.
4. Assemble Dish: Grease a casserole dish with olive oil. Next, spread a layer of the turkey + tomato sauce, a sprinkle of both parmesan and mozzarella cheese until the sauce is covered, and about 5 dollops of the ricotta mixture. Next add a layer of noodles. Repeat this process until you are at the top of the casserole dish, then cover the top with only mozzarella cheese.
5. Bake: Place casserole dish on a cookie sheet, so the sauce does not spill into the oven. Bake for 22 minutes, and then set the oven to broil. Keep an eye on the dish and once the cheese begins to brown, remove from the oven immediately. Garnish with parsley and serve!