Baked Pasta With Sausage And Zucchini Recipes

EASY BAKED SAUSAGE AND ZUCCHINI CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Toss the zucchini slices with kosher salt. Place into a colander and set over the sink to drain for 30 minutes. Pat very dry and remove as much salt as possible at the end.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and adjust the oven rack to the middle position.
• In a large skillet over medium heat, add the oil. After it has heat up for about 1 minute, add onions with Italian seasoning. Cook for about 5 minutes until soft, stirring frequently.
• Add sausage and cook while breaking up the meat with a wooden spoon for about 7-8 minutes until browned. Add garlic and cook for about a minute, stirring frequently until fragrant. Remove from the skillet and transfer to a bowl. Stir in artichoke hearts and salt & pepper.
• Add mixture to a 1.75 quart baking dish and layer zucchini rounds in between. Evenly distribute the broth on top of the dish. Cover with red sauce and cheese.
• Bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 20-25 minutes until zucchini is slightly golden around the edges and the cheese has melted. Feel free to do a low broil the last few minutes, too. Sprinkle with fresh parsley and serve warm.

BAKED PASTA WITH SAUSAGE AND ZUCCHINI

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
• Generously butter a 9x12-inch casserole pan and coat with half the bread crumbs.
• Place the zucchini in a colander and sprinkle with the salt.
• Cover with a plate (press down on the zucchini), weighted down with a heavy object.
• The salt will draw the liquid from the zucchini; the plate will help squeeze it out.
• Allow the zucchini to sit for about 20 minutes.
• Place the onion, celery, carrot and pancetta or bacon in the bowl of a food processor and pulse until the mixture is chopped into tiny pieces.
• In a large, deep sauté pan, heat 2 tablespoons of the oil over medium-high heat.
• Add the vegetable-pancetta mixture and the garlic.
• Sauté for 5 to 6 minutes.
• Add the sausage, stirring to break it up further and cook for 4 to 6 minutes, until the sausage is cooked through.
• Add the wine, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan and cook for 1 to 2 minutes.
• Add the tomato sauce and broth.
• Bring the sauce to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes.
• You should have a thin rather than thick pasta sauce; you want it liquid, as the mixture will eventually bake.
• Set the sauce aside, and cook the pasta in the boiling water according to the package directions.
• Do not overcook; the pasta should hold its shape.
• While the pasta is cooking, rinse the zucchini.
• Wrap in a clean, dry kitchen towel and squeeze out all the moisture.
• Heat 1 to 2 tablespoons of the remaining oil.
• Add the zucchini, and over high heat, brown on all sides for 3 to 4 minutes.
• Cook in two batches, adding more oil if necessary, if the zucchini pieces are too many for one pan.
• They should be softened but not mushy.
• Remove and set aside.
• Drain the pasta, reserving 1/2 to 3/4 cup of the cooking water.
• Remove 1 cup of the pasta sauce from its pan and warm the remainder.
• Add the pasta and reserved pasta water to the sauce in the pan and toss well.
• Add the zucchini and mozzarella and stir well.
• Spoon the pasta mixture into the prepared casserole pan.
• Pour the reserved sauce over the top and sprinkle with the remaining bread crumbs and the Romano.
• Cover the casserole tightly with aluminum foil, and bake in the center of the oven for about 10 minutes, until warmed through.
• Remove the foil, check that the mozzarella is melted and broil for 1 to 2 minutes to crisp the top before serving.

ZUCCHINI-TOMATO PASTA SAUCE

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, melt butter with oil over medium heat. Add onions, cook and stir until tender, 5-7 minutes. Stir in tomatoes, zucchini, garlic, oregano, salt and pepper; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, until zucchini is tender and sauce reaches desired consistency, 50-60 minutes. Serve with pasta.

BAKED PENNE WITH SAUSAGE, ZUCCHINI, AND FONTINA RECIPE - (4.2/5)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375. Grease a 2 1/2 to 3 quart deep casserole. Cut each zucchini half in thirds lengthwise, then crosswise into 1 1/2 inch long pieces. Heat oil in large heavy skillet over medium heat. Add sausage and cook until no longer pink, breaking up with a fork. Transfer to bowl using slotted spoon. Add onion and red pepper to skillet and cook until beginning to soften, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes. Add zucchini. Season with salt and pepper and saute until almost tender about 8 minutes. Return sausage to skillet. Add cream and oregano and bring to a boil. Add half of fontina cheese and stie until just melted. Meanwhile, cook penne in a large pot of boiling salted water, stir occasionally, until just tender but still firm to the bite. Drain well; return to pot. Add your sauce mixture and stir to coat. Taste and adjust seasoning to your taste. Transfer to prepared caserole. Top with remaining cheese. (Can be prepared through here up to one day ahead. Cover and refrigerate. Bring to room temp before continuing.) Bake until heated thrugh, about 15 minutes. Serve hot. Can be doubled.