Baked Ziti Recipe

So despite my avatar, I am not Italian...professional Jew here. But my friend has had a GIANT baby and I wanted to bring her and her husband a tray of Baked Ziti. I think I bought everything I need to make it, but can someone please post a nice recipe for me to use as a guide.

TIA

Re: Baked Ziti Recipe

I don't follow a recipe but here goes

Container or Ricotta Cheese (whole milk is my preferance)

shredded mozz (I do in the cuisinart)

parmesan

1-2 eggs beaten

salt, pepper, oregano

chopped parsley and basil

Mix together.

Layer sauce on bottom of tray (I cover with foil, then with olive oil too.

Add pasta and cheese, mix.
Add sauce, mix.

Add more pasta and cheese, mix
Add more sauce, mix.

Top with sauce and extra shredded mozz. Cover, bake at 350 for about 35-40 minutes.


If cheese is too thick, I add a dash of milk.

Re: Baked Ziti Recipe

Thanks chick! Thats exactly what I bought...so my hunch was right!!!

Re: Baked Ziti Recipe

i do a simpler version... i just heat the sauce, then mix in the cooked ziti with a container of ricotta, some parm cheese, and some shredded fresh mozzarella... i put it ina pan, throw the rest of the fresh mozzarella on top, then stick it in the oven for a bit, until the cheese is melted...

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Re: Baked Ziti Recipe

Another Jew here. But, I married a man who is all Italian. So I figured I better learn how to cook some of the stuff. DH likes my baked ziti so I guess it's close to what it should be, here ya go...

I premix the ziti with sauce.

layer the bottom of the pan with sauce only (I find this helps prevent sticking)

Pour a layer of ziti
Pour a thin layer of cheese mixture (my cheese mixture is 1 tub of ricotta cheese, a sprinkle of pecorino romano cheese, garlic powder, italian seasoning, dash of pepper, handful of shredded mozzzarella)
Pour another layer of ziti, and continue (finishing with ziti on top) until you are out of ingredients or out of room in the pan.

I top with a little extra sauce to prevent drying out

And finish with a healthy sprinkle of mozzarella cheese across the top. Bake until cheese is bubbly

....now I'm hungry!

Re: Baked Ziti Recipe

I always add groundmeat to my baked ziti.

The Mega recipe:

Ziti pasta cooked and drained
2lb ricotta
1 lb shredded or cubed mozarella
1/2 c parmesan cheese
1 jar of sauce (yes, I used jarred suace!)
1 lb ground beef, cooked and drained
Spices to suit your needs

Mix all together and bake for 1/2 hour.

Re: Baked Ziti Recipe

I just did this for friends who just had a baby as well..

I find the most simple recipe...

1 jar of tomato sauce (I use Healthy Choice)
1 box of pasta (I use whole wheat)
1 small container of part-skim ricotta
1 package of part-skim shredded mozz cheese
About 1/2 cup parm cheese for top sprinkling

Cook pasta. Drain.

In a 9 x 13 pan, spray with Pam. Pour full contents of sauce and ricotta cheese into the pan. Mix until the mixture is a solid *pink* color-- so evenly mix it all. Put the pasta in the pan, and mix again, making sure everything is all good and evenly distributed. Sprinkle full contents of mozz cheese package on top, as well as the parm.

Bake in a pre-heated oven at like 400 or so, for 45 mins or so. Keep checking on it since most ovens are different.

When I made it, I did it early in the AM and ran out to the gym-- it cooked for 30 mins and still needed time, but I didn't want to wait for it. I left it in the oven, but turned the oven off. An hour and a half later when I returned, it was perfect-- if you like well done.

My friends LOVED it... wanted the recipe. Raved and raved....

Re: Baked Ziti Recipe

I forgot to ask (got all wrapped up in meeting Morrissey...) Does anyone mix sour cream with their Ricotta???

Re: Baked Ziti Recipe

No, never added sour cream. I'll have to try that.

Re: Baked Ziti Recipe

Sour cream? I don't think I would do that- my grandmother would roll over in her grave...

Here is my recipe from my grandmother / mother:

1 lb. ziti
2 lbs. ricotta
1/2 lb. mozzarella
Sauce

Add a beaten egg, salt, pepper, parsley flakes, a little garlic powder and a little grated cheese to the ricotta. Mix well. Add a little sauce...maybe one or two ladels, not much.

Cover bottom of a 9x13 pan with sauce add half the pasta then add half ricotta and top with half the shredded mozzarella (you can either layer it this way or add mozzarella to the ricotta mixture) then top with sauce and repeat the layer. I usually put a little mozzarella on top. cook at 350 for approximately 30 to 45 mins. Could be longer just look for bubbles on the side or cheese good and melted, it's better if you let it sit for 15 minutes or so to give it time to settle.

I don't layer, I just mix it all in a bowl, and put it in a 9 x 13 pan, still adding the sauce on the bottom of course.