Veggie Lovers Baked Ziti Recipes

BEST VEGETARIAN BAKED ZITI

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375 degrees F.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. When ready, add the pasta and cook to al dante according to package. When ready, drain pasta but save about 1/2 cup cooking water.
• While the pasta is cooking , cook the vegetables. In a large skillet, heat 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil over medium heat until shimmering but not smoking. Add onions and cook for 3 minutes or so, tossing regularly, then add diced zucchini, bell pepper, and garlic. Raise heat to medium-high and cook for about 6 to 8 minutes, tossing regularly, until vegetables have softened and cooked through. Season with kosher salt, oregano and paprika. Sit aside till needed.
• In a mixing bowl, combine the ricotta, 1/4 cup grated Paremsan and 3 tbsp Mozzarella. Mix well. (If needed, add a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil to help mix the cheese)
• Once the pasta has been cooked and drained, bring it back to the cooking pot. Add 1/2 of the marinara sauce and starchy cooking water you reserved (1/2 cup). Mix well to coat the pasta with the sauce. Fold in the ricotta cheese filling. Mix again to combine, but leave some big "pockets" of the cheese mixture.
• Grab a 9 1/2" x 13" casserole dish. Pour a little marinara sauce to the bottom of the dish, spread. Spread half the pasta. Now add the cooked vegetables and some of the torn basil on top and spread well across the pasta layer. Sprinkle a little bit of shredded mozzarella on top (leave more mozzarella for very top layer.) Add remaining pasta. Spread remaining marinara sauce on top and add remaining mozzarella cheese and Parmesan cheese.
• Place the casserole dish on the middle rack of your heated oven. Bake uncovered for 30 minutes or so. Remove from heat and let rest about 10 to 15 minutes before cutting through. garnish with fresh basil.

VEGGIE LOVER'S BAKED ZITI

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Spray 13x9-inch baking dish with cooking spray; set aside. Cook pasta according to package directions, omitting salt.
• Heat oil in large skillet over medium-high heat while pasta is cooking. Add squash, salt and pepper. Cook 5 minutes or until squash is crisp-tender and starting to brown, stirring frequently. Add spinach; cook 2 minutes or until liquid evaporates, stirring frequently. Stir in pasta sauce and Alfredo sauce; cook 1 minute or until hot, stirring occasionally.
• Drain pasta. Add to sauce along with half of the cheese; mix lightly. Spoon into prepared dish; top with the remaining cheese.
• Bake 10 minutes or until cheese is melted and mixture is hot.

VEGETARIAN BAKED ZITI

Steps:

• Cook the ziti to just before al dente.
• Coat a 9'x12" baking dish with olive oil. Set aside.
• In a skillet, heat the remaining olive oil over medium-high heat. Cook the onion until translucent.
• Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Don't let the garlic brown.
• Crush the tomatoes with your hands and add to the skillet. Add in the juice from the can.
• Cook for 3-5 minutes.
• In a large bowl mix the ricotta and mozarella cheeses.
• Add the parsley, basil, oregano, salt, red pepper, a few grinds of pepper, and mix.
• Add the tomato-onion mixture and mix well.
• When the ziti is drained add to the cheese mixture and toss well to coat the pasta.
• Spoon the mixture into the baking dish.
• Sprinkle the bread crumbs and parmesan cheese on top of the pasta.
• Bake at 400F for 20-30 minutes, or until lightly browned.
• Allow to rest for 5 minutes before serving.

VEGETARIAN BAKED ZITI

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Spray a 3-quart baking dish with cooking spray.
• Heat oil in a large saute pan over medium heat. Add eggplant, zucchini, tomatoes, bell pepper, onion, and garlic; cook, stirring occasionally until vegetables are tender, about 10 minutes. Sprinkle with Italian seasoning and salt; stir to combined.
• Meanwhile, bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add ziti and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 11 minutes. Drain and rinse in cold water.
• Mix spaghetti sauce and diced tomatoes together in a medium bowl.
• Spread 1/3 of the sauce mixture in the bottom of the prepared casserole. Layer ingredients as follows: 1/2 of the ziti, 1/2 of the vegetable mixture, 1/2 of the Parmesan substitute, 1/2 of the mozzarella slices, 1/2 of the remaining sauce, all of the remaining ziti, all of the remaining vegetables, all of the remaining Parmesan substitute, and all of the remaining sauce. Set remaining mozzarella slices aside.
• Cover loosely and bake in the preheated oven until bubbly, 25 to 30 minutes. Remove from the oven, uncover, and top with remaining mozzarella slices. Return to the oven and bake, uncovered, until cheese is melted and slightly browned, 10 to 15 minutes longer.

VEGGIE LOVERS BAKED ZITI

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425.
• Heat oil on Med-hi in skillet.
• Add squash (and optional mushrooms) and season with salt and pepper.
• Cook until squash starts to brown.
• Add spinach (and optional broccoli); cook until water evaporates.
• Blend the sauces into the veggies.
• Heat through.
• Toss with pasta, optional ground beef, and half of the cheese.
• Coat a 13x9 pan with spray.
• fill dish and top with leftover cheese.
• Bake 10 min or until cheese melts.