Pasta al Forno (Baked Ziti)
INGREDIENTS
Meat Sauce
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1/2 lb. Ground Pork
1/4 lb. Ground Beef
1 Tbsp. Tomato Paste
1/3 Sweet Onion chopped
2 Garlic Cloves chopped
1 cup Dry White Wine
25 oz. Tomato Passata
Salt and Black Pepper to taste
5 Basil Leaves
Pasta
12 oz. Ziti
Cheese Mix
13 oz. Fresh Ricotta
1 1/2 cups Mozzarella Cheese shredded
1/2 cup Grana Padano Cheese shredded
1 Egg
Handful Parsley chopped
For Assembly
1 1/2 Cup Mozzarella Cheese, shredded
1/2 Cup Grana Padang Cheese, shredded
METHOD
Meat Sauce
1. Add a drizzle of olive oil into a pot or dutch oven on medium heat.
2. Add the pork and beef and cook until all of the water is removed and the meat has browned. Stirring often
3. Mix in the tomato paste and then add in the garlic and onion. Sauté for about 2 minutes.
4. Pour in the wine. Let simmer for about 4 minutes until the alcohol is evaporated.
5. Pour in the tomato sauce and season with salt and black pepper.
6. Break apart the basil leaves and add into the sauce. Mix all together and simmer over low heat for 1 hour.
7. While the meat sauce is cooking, go ahead and cook the pasta.
Pasta
1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
2. Once boiling, add in the ziti and cook for three minutes less than the package instructions.
3. Drain and set aside in the empty pot or large bowl. This can be prepared while the meat sauce is cooking.
Cheese Mix
1. Preheat oven to 400°F and place rack in middle position.
2. In a large mixing bowl, add in the fresh ricotta, egg, half of the parsley, half of the Grana Padano cheese and half of the mozzarella cheese and mix together until fully combined.
3. Add two ladleful’s of the meat sauce into the cheese mix and mix together until fully combined.
4. Take a large scoop of the cheese mix and place into a separate small bowl and set aside.
5. Add the cooked ziti into the cheese mix and mix all together until the pasta is fully coated.
6. Add another ladleful of the meat sauce and mix.
Assembly
1. In a deep baking dish (10″ x 10″), add a ladleful of the meat sauce and spread evenly over the bottom.
2. Add half of the mixed ziti and spread evenly.
3. Pour a ladleful of the meat sauce on top of the first layer of ziti and then sprinkle half of the remaining Grana Padano cheese and half of the mozzarella cheese on top.
4. Add the remaining ziti and spread evenly.
5. Add the cheese mix that was set aside in a separate small bowl on top of the second layer of ziti and spread evenly. Add two ladleful’s of the meat sauce all over the top.
Baking
1. Place into the oven and bake for 20 minutes.
2. After 20 minutes, remove from the oven and sprinkle the remaining Grana Padano cheese and mozzarella cheese on top.
3. Place back into the oven and bake until the cheese has melted, about 5 to 10 minutes.
4. Remove from the oven and let rest for about ten minutes before serving.
5. Garnish with parsley, if you like.