Baked ziti

Lasagna but not.

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• Best for: dinner, serves 6

• Difficulty: medium

• Time: 1 hour prep and cooking, 1/2 hour in oven

• Recommended pairings: a light green salad

• If you like this, try... French onion pasta bake

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This is a great comfort meal that doesn't feel as heavy as lasagna. I use Banza pasta, and I highly recommend it.

Ingredients

1 lb. ziti pasta, can also use penne or rigatoni (I used Banza ziti)

1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil

1 medium onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced 

2 tbsp. tomato paste

1 tsp dried or fresh oregano

1 (28-oz.) can crushed or diced tomatoes

1 1/2 cups fresh ricotta

1 (10-oz). package frozen spinach, heated to instructions and drained (chop if not pre-chopped)

2 tbsp. thinly sliced basil, plus more for garnish

1/2 cups grated Parmesan

2 cups shredded mozzarella

Zest of 1/2 lemon

1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes

Kosher salt 

pepper

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First...

Preheat oven to 350°.

In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta until very al dente; drain.

In a large saucepan over medium heat, heat oil. Add onion and cook, stirring often, until onion is soft, about 5 minutes. 

Stir in garlic, tomato paste, and oregano and cook 2 minutes more, until slightly darkened. Add crushed tomatoes and season with salt and pepper. Bring sauce to a simmer, reduce heat and cook, stirring occasionally, until flavors have melded, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in basil.

WHILE THE SAUCE IS COOKING...

Stir to combine combine ricotta, spinach, lemon zest, and crushed red pepper flakes in a medium bowl.

Then...

In a large bowl, combine sauce and pasta. Fold in ricotta mixture, leaving large clumps. Spread about half of the pasta mixture into the bottom of a large casserole dish. Sprinkle half of the mozzarella and Parmesan over the pasta. Top with the rest of the pasta mixture and sprinkle with the remaining cheeses.

Finally...

Bake until cheese is bubbling, about 20 to 25 minutes. (Optional: broil for 1 minute to get that golden top!) Garnish with more basil before serving.