Not So Baked Ziti
This recipe calls for baking the ziti.
When we go camping I mix the hot sauce over the pasta and cheese and mix it together. My family loves it fixed that way. It still has great flavor and the kids love the stretchy mozzarella cheese.
If you have a Dutch oven you can bake it!
Ingredients
1/2 pound ziti pasta
4 teaspoons olive oil
1/2 cup onion, diced
1 1/2 cloves garlic, crushed
2/3 pound lean ground turkey
salt to taste
freshly ground black pepper
2 cups tomato sauce
1/3 cup fresh, chopped basil
1 cup fat-free ricotta cheese
2/3 cup grated, fat-free mozzarella cheese
1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Cooking Instructions
- Bring 1/2 gallon of salted water to boil.
- Add the ziti and cook until al dente, about 8 to 10 minutes.
- Drain and rinse with cold water.
- Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until soft and translucent, about 4 to 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook 30 seconds more.
- Add the ground turkey, season with salt and pepper, and brown. Drain off the excess fat.
- Add the tomato sauce and simmer for 5 minutes. Adjust the seasoning.
- In a large pot, toss the ziti, meat sauce, basil and ricotta cheese together.
- Sprinkle with the grated cheese.
- Cook until the cheese is melted and the dish is thoroughly heated, about 10 to 15 minutes.
If you have a Dutch oven you can place the mixture in side it. Bake it at about 350 degrees until the cheese you sprinkle on it is crispy and brown.