My Spicy Baked Ziti Recipes

BAKED ZITI WITH SAUSAGE

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the ziti according to the package directions for very al dente, about 7 minutes. (It will continue to cook in the oven so you want to undercook it just a bit.) Drain and add the pasta back to the pot. Set aside.
• Preheat the oven to 425°F and set the oven rack in the middle position.
• Heat a large sauté pan (preferably nonstick) over medium-high heat. Crumble the sausage into the pan and cook, breaking apart with a wooden spoon, until lightly browned and just cooked through, 5 to 6 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the cooked sausage to a plate. Drain all but 1 tablespoon of the fat from the pan and set over low heat (if you don't have enough fat in the pan, add a tablespoon of olive oil). Add the garlic and cook, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until soft but not browned, about 1 minute. Add the crushed tomatoes, salt, sugar and red pepper flakes and simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes.
• Add the cream, ⅓ cup of the pecorino Romano, cooked sausage, and basil to the pan; stir until evenly combined. Carefully pour the contents of the sauté pan into the large pot with the pasta and gently stir to combine. Spoon half of the mixture into a 9 x 13-inch baking dish. Sprinkle with half of the shredded mozzarella and half the remaining pecorino Romano. Spoon the remaining pasta mixture on top and sprinkle with the remaining mozzarella and pecorino Romano. Transfer to the oven and bake, uncovered, until the cheese has melted and browned, 15 to 20 minutes. Sprinkle with more basil and serve.
• Make-Ahead/Freezer-Friendly Instructions: The dish can be assembled, covered, and refrigerated for up to 2 days in advance, or frozen for up to 3 months. (If frozen, defrost in the refrigerator overnight.) Whether refrigerated or frozen and defrosted, bake, covered tightly with aluminum foil, in a 425°F oven for 25 minutes. Then uncover and bake for another 10 to 15 minutes, until the cheese is lightly browned and the pasta is hot throughout.

SHARON'S SPICY BAKED ZITI WITH SAUSAGE

Steps:

• Prepare the ziti as directed. Reserve 1/4 cup of the pasta water before draining the pasta.
• While the pasta is cooking, slit and remove the casings from the sausage links. Mash up the meat and place on a frying pan with a drizzle of olive oil.
• Brown the sausage meat, being careful to stir and turn the meat to make sure it is no longer pink inside. While meat is cooking, season with salt and pepper (to taste). Add 1/2 tsp of the cayenne and 1 tbsp of the crushed red pepper, too.
• When the meat is almost browned, add the minced garlic. Stir for about 1 minute and then turn off the heat so the garlic doesn't burn.
• When the pasta is cooked, drain and set aside in a colander. In the same pasta pot (with the reserved water), add the ricotta, half of the spaghetti sauce and half of the parmesan cheese. Stir until creamy.
• Add the remaining cayenne and crushed red pepper and italian seasoning to the sauce mixture.
• Add the meat to the ricotta/sauce mixture.
• Add the pasta into the sauce/meat mixture.
• Grease a casserole pan lightly with olive oil.
• Place an even layer of the pasta mixture, only using half of it.
• Place half of the mozzarella and half of the remainder spaghetti sauce on top of the pasta layer. Sprinkle with some parmesan, if desired.
• Place the second half of the pasta mixture on top of the first. Put the rest of the mozarella, spaghetti sauce and parmesan cheese on top.
• Sprinkle the top with the remaining crushed red pepper.
• Cover casserole pan with foil and bake for 35-40 minutes at 350 degrees. Cheese should be melted and sauce should be a bit bubbly.

MY SPICY BAKED ZITI

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350.
• Cook Ziti according to package directions (al dente is preferred).
• In a large skillet, cook the Sausage, Onions and Garlic in Olive Oil until the sausage is browned.
• Add Spaghetti Sauce, Tomato, Tomato Paste, Chicken Broth, Rosemary and Oregano.
• Reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes.
• Mix Ricotta, Egg, and Parsley in a large bowl.
• Mix 1/3 of the sausage mixture with the cooked Ziti pasta.
• Place half of the Ziti mixture in a 13x9x2 in baking dish.
• In the following order, spread the Ricotta mixture over the Ziti, followed by half of the Parmesan and Mozarella cheeses, and then an additional 1/3 of the sausage mixture.
• Then layer the rest of the Ziti, remaining sausage mixture, mozzarella cheese, and Parmesan cheese, finishing with the Basil.
• Cover and bake for 20 minutes, then uncover and bake for an additional 10 minutes.
• Enjoy!