how to make BAKED ZITI (PASTA AL FORNO)

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.

Prepare a double batch of weekday sauce by simmering good-quality tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, basil, and salt on the stove.

Run tomatoes through a food mill and squeeze them by hand to help them process.

Cut garlic into thin slices.

Cook the weekday sauce to a looser consistency than usual to account for baking.

Boil water in a pot for cooking the pasta.

Use ziti pasta with ridges for better sauce adherence; if unavailable, rigatoni can be used.

Cube fresh mozzarella and dried mozzarella into small pieces.

Cook the ziti pasta in boiling water until still crunchy, about halfway through the cooking process.

In a bowl, combine cooked pasta with some of the weekday sauce and diced cheese, mixing well.

Layer the bottom of a baking dish with sauce, add half the pasta mixture, then layer with more cheese.

Fill the baking dish with the remaining pasta mixture, add more cheese on top, and sprinkle with parmesan and olive oil.

Bake in a 400-degree oven uncovered for about 30 minutes until bubbly and golden.

If needed, finish under the broiler for additional browning and crispness on top.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Allergens