Baked Ziti with Small Meatballs

10 servings

60 minutes

Ziti is a type of pasta traditional for the southern regions of Italy, which is a wide and fairly long tube (25 cm). Baked ziti is a typical Italian-American food, and the phrase " ziti box ", used in "The Sopranos" to denote a thousand dollars, quickly became popular. Recipe from the book "The Sopranos Family Cookbook" by Allen Rucker and Michelle Scicolone.

Energy value per serving

• Calories: 454.5
• Proteins: 24.7g
• Fats: 25.7g
• Carbohydrates: 39g

Ingredients

• Pasta ziti: 450 g
• Meatballs: 500 g
• Tomato passata sauce: 800 g
• Grated Parmesan cheese: 90 g
• Basil leaves: 6 pc
• Ricotta cheese: 260 g
• Mozzarella cheese: 225 g
• Salt: to taste
• Ground black pepper: to taste

Cooking steps

1. Bring at least 3.5 liters of water to a boil in a large pot. Add salt to taste and add the pasta. Cook, stirring frequently, until al dente, so that the pasta remains slightly firm in the center.

   Required ingredients:

   • Pasta ziti: 450 g
   • Salt:  to taste

2. Meanwhile, fry the meatballs in olive oil, adding passata and basil leaves. Add salt and pepper to taste.

   Required ingredients:

   • Meatballs: 500 g
   • Tomato passata sauce: 800 g
   • Basil leaves: 6 pieces
   • Salt:  to taste
   • Ground black pepper:  to taste

3. Remove the meatballs from the sauce and set aside.

   Required ingredients:

   • Meatballs: 500 g

4. Drain the water from the pasta and transfer it to a large bowl.

5. Mix about 2/3 of the sauce with half of the grated cheese.

   Required ingredients:

   • Tomato passata sauce: 800 g
   • Grated Parmesan cheese: 90 g

6. Add the meatballs and mix again.

   Required ingredients:

   • Meatballs: 500 g

7. Preheat the oven to 175 degrees.

8. Layer half of the pasta in a shallow baking dish of about 3 liters. Top with a layer of ricotta, sprinkle with mozzarella and half of the remaining grated cheese. Drizzle with half of the remaining sauce.

   Required ingredients:

   • Pasta ziti: 450 g
   • Ricotta cheese: 260 g
   • Mozzarella cheese: 225 g
   • Grated Parmesan cheese: 90 g
   • Tomato passata sauce: 800 g

9. Lay out the second part of the pasta and pour the remaining sauce over it. Sprinkle with the remaining grated cheese. Cover the dish with foil. (At this stage, the dish can be placed in the refrigerator for a few hours or overnight. Before baking, take it out of the refrigerator at least 30 minutes in advance.)

   Required ingredients:

   • Pasta ziti: 450 g
   • Tomato passata sauce: 800 g
   • Grated Parmesan cheese: 90 g

10. Bake the ziti for 45 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for another 15 to 30 minutes, or until the dish is hot in the center and the sauce starts to bubble at the edges. Cover and let it sit for 15 minutes before serving.