I found a really improbable model of baked ziti in 2017 once I began cooking from Colu Henry’s Again Pocket Pasta. Massive, hearty, family-style pastas are a terrific love of mine, however my baked ziti makes an attempt have been at all times simply so-so. I struggled with general cohesiveness, and the ricotta combination at all times tended to bake up just a little drier than I hoped. Colu’s approach was a game-changer. She recommends a 50/50 mix of ricotta and creme fraîche in her recipe – it retains every part silky and wealthy, and I’ve by no means regarded again. And yep, bitter cream will even work in a pinch.
What Makes Nice Baked Ziti?
If you wish to make the most effective baked ziti, give attention to two issues: how lengthy you cook dinner the pasta, and the sauce. The sauce is king right here. You need to use good, flavorful tomatoes, and also you need to let every part simmer down right into a thick, chunky, vibrant crimson sauce. A little bit of persistence is vital. See the sauce within the photograph under? Maintain simmering. On the pasta entrance, keep away from over-cooking within the preliminary stage, the boil. The ziti will proceed cooking because the pasta bakes – you need to arrive on the end line with excellent pasta. For those who overcook in the course of the preliminary boil, the pasta will turn out to be too gentle and unstructured.
Baked Ziti: The Components
- Dried ziti pasta: Use a good-quality dried pasta right here. Ziti is the namesake form to make use of, however penne is a legit various and simpler to search out tbh. For a little bit of added diet, discover complete wheat pastas, or pasta made with lentils or chickpeas. As I’ve talked about in earlier pasta recipes, a perpetually favourite of mine is the Monograno Felicetti Farro Penne Rigate. You may even make baked ziti gluten-free by swapping in one of many GF pastas.
- Child spinach: One notice right here, in case your child spinach has lengthy thick stems, go forward and snap the largest offenders off. Other than that I don’t hassle chopping or fussing.
- Canned tomatoes: Search for good-quality diced canned tomatoes. Notice that you just’ll want each a 28-ounce *and* a 14-ounce can. I are inclined to seize fire-roasted for this recipe, however you don’t must!
- Sausage: I hardly ever purchase or cook dinner with faux meat, however that is one recipe the place I exploit Unattainable sausage for the meat part. It simply helps examine all of the packing containers for an enormous, family-style baked ziti that everybody can get on board with. One other various is to make use of this mushroom ragù as your sauce, rather than the crimson sauce with sausage posted under.
- Cheeses: Three cheese are in play right here. Use recent mozzarella if attainable. It’ll usually be in liquid, and any measurement is okay – you’ll be tearing it into smaller items. For the grated cheese Colu recommends Pecorino Romano, however for those who are inclined to hold Parmesan readily available, go forward and use that – freshly grated. And the ricotta performs one other key roll right here, so use one you’d take pleasure in consuming straight – on a cracker or slice of toast.
- Creme fraîche: The wildcard on this baked ziti is the addition of creme fraîche. To make your individual, you possibly can add 1 tablespoon of cultured buttermilk or yogurt to a cup of heavy cream. Stir effectively, cowl with a clear dishtowel, and permit to sit down out in your counter for 12 hours or so, till it thickens. Refrigerate till prepared to make use of. Alternately, you should utilize bitter cream right here. It’s tangier, however in a great way!
Variations
Listed here are some favourite variations on this baked ziti that I’ve cooked over time.
- Make it Spicy: To make this baked ziti feisty and spicy, add a little bit of spicy Calabrian pepper paste (the one I purchase most is known as Bomba di Calabria) to the sauce after including the spinach. Go simple, a few of these pastes are wildly spicy. But in addition go stronger than you may in any other case as a result of the sauce will likely be reduce with all that dairy. Style and regulate.
- Make it Gluten Free: You can also make this recipe gluten-free through the use of GF pasta rather than conventional pasta. On the time I’m scripting this the Unattainable sausage is GF, however double examine – in case you’re utilizing one other model or their product modifications.
- Baked Ziti with Mushrooms: I do a model of this baked ziti utilizing this mushroom ragù, and it’s equally improbable. Principally, fill a 12-inch skillet to 1/2-inch or so under the rim, and stir within the 5 ounces or spinach. Then proceed with the recipe as written. Principally, don’t skimp on the quantity of sauce you’re utilizing. https://www.101cookbooks.com/mushroom-ragu/
- Toss in Some Wildcards: Lots of occasions when making baked ziti, I’ll toss substances in on a whim. No matter I’ve at hand. A couple of of the extra profitable additions embody the next: torn olives, a lot of lemon or orange zest, additional spinach or herbs, deeply caramelized onions, goat cheese rather than half the mozzarella.
Baked Ziti: Make Forward Suggestions
This recipe makes a massive pan of baked ziti. We usually eat half and freeze half leading to simple meals within the coming weeks. The easiest way I’ve discovered to freeze baked ziti is to start out by refrigerating your baked ziti till it is extremely chilly. This makes it simple to slice into exact, particular person parts. Organize the parts on a parchment-lined baking sheet and freeze till stable. Switch to freezer baggage for as much as 6 weeks. Reheat, coated in foil, on a baking sheet (or in baking pan), in a 375F oven till bubbly and sizzling all through.
Again Pocket Pasta & Colu
Colu’s archives are a gold-mine of low elevate, fabulous meals. Within the years since Again Pocket Pasta was revealed, she additionally wrote Colu Cooks: Simple Fancy Meals. You want somebody like Colu Henry in your life. When Again Pocket Pasta was revealed, I wrote, “She’s a type of trendy associates who will let you know the place to attain the prettiest attire, show you how to e book the most effective journey locations, and fortunately level you towards your subsequent good learn.” She’s the queen of bringing easy model to the weeknight dinner desk and her books are brimming with informal recipes achievable with little greater than a fairly stocked pantry and a little bit of seasonal aptitude. You may comply with her right here and right here.
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