Easy Baked Ziti Pasta w/Ground Beef - Episode 9 - ❤ Love For Haitian Food And Other Foods

ricotta cheese

🥗Healthier: cottage cheese

💰Cheaper: cream cheese

Cottage cheese is lower in fat and provides a similar texture.

ground beef

🥗Healthier: ground turkey

💰Cheaper: ground pork

Ground turkey is leaner, while ground pork can be less expensive.

mozzarella cheese

🥗Healthier: part-skim mozzarella

💰Cheaper: provolone cheese

Part-skim mozzarella reduces calories while provolone can be more affordable.

Parmesan cheese

🥗Healthier: nutritional yeast

💰Cheaper: grated Pecorino Romano

Nutritional yeast is dairy-free and adds a cheesy flavor.

Boil water in a pot and add a generous amount of salt.

Add ground beef and onions to the pot and mix well, breaking up the meat.

Add bell peppers and garlic to the meat mixture and continue mixing.

Season with salt, all-purpose seasoning, and fennel seeds while the meat is cooking.

Pour in tomato sauce, rinsing the jar with about half a cup of water to get all the sauce out.

Add another jar of tomato sauce, rinsing it out with half a cup of water as well.

Mix in basil, rosemary, and oregano into the sauce.

Cook ziti pasta according to package directions in the boiling salted water.

Drain the pasta and run it under cold water to cool it down.

Taste the sauce and adjust seasoning if necessary, adding more salt if needed.

Add the drained pasta to the sauce a little at a time, mixing to ensure each noodle is thoroughly coated.

Layer the pasta in a baking dish, adding ricotta on top.

If the ricotta is thick, mix it to loosen it up for easier spreading.

Add a generous amount of shredded mozzarella cheese on top.

Repeat the layering with more pasta, ricotta, and mozzarella cheese.

Bake in the oven for 30 to 35 minutes.

Let it cool for 15 to 20 minutes before serving.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Dietary

Allergens