Family Baked Ziti

Family baked ziti with pasta, tomato-beef sauce, ricotta, mozzarella and Parmesan baked until bubbling and golden.

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Baked ziti is Italian-American comfort food made for sharing. Undercooking the pasta slightly before baking prevents it becoming soft and heavy.

Ingredients

• 500 g ziti or penne
• 500 g beef mince
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 onion (finely diced)
• 3 garlic cloves (minced)
• 700 ml passata
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1 tsp fine salt (or to taste)
• 0.5 tsp black pepper
• 300 g ricotta
• 300 g mozzarella (grated)
• 80 g Parmesan (finely grated)
• 20 g fresh basil (torn)
• 1 egg (beaten into ricotta, optional)

Step-by-step method

1. Heat the oven to 200°C conventional or 180°C fan. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
2. Heat the olive oil in a saucepan and cook the onion for 5 minutes. Add the beef and cook until browned, breaking it into small pieces.
3. Add the garlic, passata, oregano, salt and pepper and simmer for 15 minutes.
4. Cook the pasta for 2 minutes less than the package instructions, then drain. Toss with about one-third of the meat sauce.
5. Mix the ricotta with half the Parmesan and the beaten egg if using. Spread a thin layer of sauce in a deep baking dish.
6. Add half the pasta, dollops of ricotta, some mozzarella and basil. Repeat the layers and finish with remaining sauce, mozzarella and Parmesan.
7. Cover loosely with foil and bake for 20 minutes, then uncover and bake for another 15–20 minutes until bubbling and browned.
8. Rest for 10 minutes before serving so the layers settle and portions hold together.