I found a very improbable model of baked ziti in 2017 after I began cooking from Colu Henry’s Again Pocket Pasta. Massive, hearty, family-style pastas are an awesome love of mine, however my baked ziti makes an attempt had been at all times simply so-so. I struggled with total cohesiveness, and the ricotta combination at all times tended to bake up a bit drier than I hoped. Colu’s method 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 seemed again. And yep, bitter cream may also work in a pinch.
What Makes Nice Baked Ziti?
If you wish to make the perfect baked ziti, deal with two issues: how lengthy you cook dinner the pasta, and nailing an awesome sauce. The sauce is king right here. You wish to use good, flavorful tomatoes, and also you wish to let every part simmer down right into a thick, chunky, vibrant crimson sauce. A little bit of persistence is essential. See the sauce within the photograph beneath? Hold 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 wish to arrive on the end line with good pasta. In the event you overcook in the course of the preliminary boil, the pasta will turn into too tender and unstructured.
Baked Ziti: The Substances
- 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 vitamin, 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’ll be able to even make baked ziti gluten-free by swapping in one of many GF pastas.
- Child spinach: One observe right here, in case your child spinach has lengthy thick stems, go forward and snap the most important offenders off. Apart from that I don’t trouble chopping or fussing, however you may in the event you like.
- Canned tomatoes: Search for good-quality diced canned tomatoes. Word that you simply’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 should!
- Sausage: I hardly ever purchase or cook dinner with pretend meat, however that is one recipe the place I exploit Inconceivable sausage for the meat element. It simply helps verify all of the 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 beneath.
- Cheeses: Three cheese are in play right here. Use contemporary mozzarella if doable – it’ll sometimes be in liquid, and any dimension ball is okay – you’ll be tearing it into smaller items. For the grated cheese Colu recommends Pecorino Romano, however in the event you are inclined to hold Parmesan available, go forward and use that – freshly grated. And the ricotta performs one other key roll right here, so use one you’d get pleasure from 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 personal, you may add 1 tablespoon of cultured buttermilk or yogurt to a cup of heavy cream. Stir nicely, cowl with a clear dishtowel, and permit to take a seat out in your counter for 12 hours or so, till it thickens. Refrigerate till prepared to make use of. Alternately, you need to use 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 through the years.
- 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 named 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 might be lower with all that dairy. Style and regulate.
- Make it Gluten Free: You may make this recipe gluten-free through the use of GF pasta rather than conventional pasta. On the time I’m scripting this the Inconceivable sausage is GF, however double verify – in case you’re utilizing one other model or their product adjustments.
- 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 beneath 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.
- Toss in Some Wildcards: A whole lot of instances when making baked ziti, I’ll toss components in on a whim. No matter I’ve at hand. Just a few 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 Ideas
This recipe makes a massive pan of baked ziti. We sometimes eat half and freeze half leading to simple meals within the coming weeks. One of the simplest ways I’ve discovered to freeze baked ziti is to begin by refrigerating your baked ziti till it is extremely chilly. This makes it simple to slice into exact, particular person parts. Prepare the parts on a parchment-lined baking sheet and freeze till strong. Switch to freezer luggage 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 printed, she additionally wrote Colu Cooks: Straightforward Fancy Meals. You want somebody like Colu Henry in your life. When Again Pocket Pasta was printed, I wrote, “She’s a kind of fashionable pals who will inform you the place to attain the prettiest clothes, enable you guide the perfect journey locations, and fortunately level you towards your subsequent good learn.” She’s the queen of bringing easy type 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’ll be able to observe her right here and right here.
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