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Baked Ziti

Course: Main Dishes
1st Gen Author: Janene Jensen

Ingredients

  • 1 lb whole milk or 1% cottage cheese
  • 2 large eggs slightly beaten
  • 3 oz grated parmesan cheese about 1½ cup divided
  • table salt
  • 1 lb ziti
  • 1 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
  • 20 oz turkey Italian sausage
  • ½ cup yellow onion finely chopped
  • 5 med cloves garlic minced or pressed
  • 28 oz can tomato sauce
  • 14.5 oz can diced tomatoes
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • ½ c +2 Tbsp chopped fresh basil leaves divided
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • ground black pepper
  • ¾ tsp cornstarch
  • 1 cup heavy cream or whole milk
  • 8 oz low-moisture mozzarella cut into ¼ inch pieces

Instructions

  • Center a rack in the oven and preheat the oven to 350° F.
  • Whisk cottage cheese, eggs, and 1 c Parmesan together in a medium bowl; set aside.
  • Bring a large pot of water to boil. Stir in 1 tablespoon salt and the pasta; cook until pasta begins to soften but is not yet cooked through, 5-7 minutes. Drain the pasta and leave in colander
  • Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Crumble in the turkey sausage and cook until nearly browned. Add in the onion and garlic and continue to cook until the onion is softened and the sausage is completely browned.
  • Stir in the tomato sauce, diced tomatoes and oregano; simmer until thickened, about 10 minutes. Off the heat, stir in ½ c basil and the sugar, and season with salt and pepper
  • In a small bowl stir together the cornstarch and heavy cream. Transfer the mixture to the now-empty stockpot over medium heat. Bring to a simmer and cook until thickened, 3-4 minutes.
  • Remove the pot from the heat and add the cottage cheese mixture, 1½ c of the tomato sauce and ¾ c mozzarella. Stir to combine. Add the pasta and toss to coat thoroughly with the sauce.
  • Transfer the pasta to a 9×13″ baking dish and spread the remaining tomato sauce evenly over the top. Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan over the top. Cover the baking dish tightly with foil and bake for 30 minutes.
  • Remove the foil from the pan and continue to cook until the cheese is bubbling and beginning to brown, about 30 minutes longer. Cool for 20 minutes. Sprinkle the remaining 2 tablespoons of basil and serve.