Mamma Marias Baked Ziti Pasta Al Forno Recipes

NONNA'S BAKED ZITI - PASTA AL FORNO

Steps:

• Prepare the Sauce: In a sauce pan, add the extra virgin olive oil, the onion, the garlic, the bay leaves, the peperoncino and the salt. Let everything saute until the garlic turns golden and the onion is translucent. Add the ground meat and brake it up so that it browns uniformly. Once the meat has browned, add the wine and let it evaporate. Add the chopped tomatoes and the basil. Let the sauce cook for 30 mins. Assemble the Dish: Pre-heat the oven at 450F Cook the ziti until they are half way done. Rinse the pasta under cold water. Take a baking pan and add 4 scoops of sauce at the bottom. Add half of the pasta and spread it evenly. Add another light coating of sauce followed by a generous sprinkle of cheese, followed by the shredded mozzarella. Add the other half of the ziti. Cover the ziti with a coating of sauce and Parmigiano cheese. Bake the dish for 20 mins. Remove from the oven, add the cubed mozzarella and continue baking for another 10 mins. Let the dish rest for about 15 mins. and serve.

ZITI AL FORNO (FROM THE SOPRANOS FAMILY COOKBOOK)

Steps:

• Put all the ziti in a large bowl.
• Toss ziti with 3 cups of the gravy and half of the grated cheese.
• Spoon half of the ziti into a casserole dish.
• Spread the ricotta over the top of the ziti.
• Sprinkle with the mozzarella and rest of grated cheese.
• Pour on 1 cup of sauce.
• Top with remaining ziti and rest of sauce (it will be almost overflowing) sprinkle with more grated cheese.
• Bake covered with foil for 45 minutes and then uncovered for 15 minutes.
• Let stand 15 minutes.
• Tell me immediately how it was!

BAKED ZITI (ZITI AL FORNO)

Steps:

• Sauce.
• Melt butter and oil in lg. pan over medium heat.
• Add onion and mushrooms and cook until soft.
• Add garlic, tomato puree, tomatoes (break up with a spoon) and their liquid, wine, salt, bay leaf, oregano, pepper and parsley: bring to a boil.
• Cover, reduce heat and simmer until sauce is reduced to about 5 cups (about 1 1/2 hours). Remove bay leaf.
• Meatballs.
• Melt 1/2 tbsp each butter and oil in large frying pan over medium heat.
• Add onion and cook until lightly browned: transfter to mixing bowl and cool.
• Beat in egg, bread crumbs, salt, pepper, nutmeg and 1/2 cup sauce.
• Add ground beef and mix lightly until blended.
• Shape into 1 inch meatballs and in same pan onion were cooked in heat remaining butter and oil over medium heat.
• Brown meatballs about half at a time.
• Remove when brown and add to sauce.
• Pasta.
• Cook ziti in lg. pot in salted water to al dente per directions of package.
• Drain well and combine with meatball mixture.
• Spread in a shallow 4 quart casserole.
• Cover evenly with mozzarella and parmesan cheese.
• Bake uncovered in 350 oven for 30-35 minutes and cheese is golden brown.