Easy Meatless Baked Ziti

Easy Meatless Baked Ziti

Two of us shopped off the same grocery list this week, so we had two huge bricks of fresh Mozzarella that we needed to use up, so baked ziti it was last night.

It’s a 20-minute dish, super tasty and comforting that most will love.

Ingredients:

  • ½ pound ziti pasta, or other tubular pasta (I use Delverde brand)
  • 2 cups Basil-Packed Marinara Sauce (or other marinara sauce), warmed
  • 4 ounces Ricotta cheese
  • ¾ cup diced fresh Mozzarella
  • 3 ounces freshly-grated Parmesan, I use Sartori Tuscan Reserve Shaved Blend
  • 6 ounces grated Mozzarella

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
  2. Cook the pasta 1 minute less than what’s indicated on the packaging. Drain and reserve.
  3. Over medium heat, bring the sauce to a simmer in the pan the pasta was cooked in. Add the pasta to the marinara sauce and toss to coat.
  4. Add the Ricotta and incorporate.
  5. Add the diced Mozzarella and stir to distribute evenly.
  6. Pour the pasta in an oven-proof dish (I used my large cast iron pan) and sprinkle the parmesan and grated Mozzarella over the pasta.
  7. Place the dish in the oven and bake for 20 minutes. Turn the broiler on to high and broil for 5 minutes, or until the sliced Mozzarella is melted and bubbly.

Yields 2 generous entrée-size servings.