Baked Ziti
- Makes
- 6 servings
Ingredients
Green amounts are scaled. Anything else is as written, so adjust it yourself.
Method
Amounts and times written inside the steps are for the original quantity.
- Heat a pan (we prefer cast iron for this) over med-high, when pan is warm add some olive oil. Roll sausage meat into balls about the size of a quarter, and add each to pan as rolled (don’t crowd, don’t be too precious, it’s not science). Press each ball down with a spatula to increase contact with pan. Now wait, don’t flip (seriously, wait!) until a beautiful golden brown layer forms. Once nice and golden, flip and wait again. Do this in batches or with multiple pans to achieve best results. Once cooked transfer to paper towel lined bowl (included any bits cooked to the bottom of the pan and keep for assembly.
- Preheat oven to 350° and start a large pot of salted water to boil.
- Heat butter in a medium saucepan over medium until foamy. Sprinkle flour over and cook, whisking constantly, . Gradually whisk in warm milk. Bring mixture to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer, whisking often, until béchamel is thickened to about the consistency of heavy cream and no longer feels grainy when rubbed between your fingers, (thoroughly cooking the mixture ensures a creamy sauce and eliminates any raw flour flavor). Remove from heat and add 2 cups Parmesan, whisking until cheese is melted and sauce is smooth. Set aside.
- Add pasta to boiling water and cook until very al dente, about (the pasta will continue to cook in the oven). Drain pasta, set aside.
- In a 13x9" or other 3-quart baking dish add about ¼ cup of tomato sauce to the bottom then layer on ⅓ of the noodles.
- Spread another ¼ cup of tomato sauce and scoop a good layer of béchamel sauce over top of the tomato sauce. Add sausage and space out about 2 spaces for each sausage piece.
- Add another layer of noodles and repeat step 5.
- Add the last layer of noodles and top with bechamel sauce then a layer of tomato sauce. Distribute fresh mozzarella slices then scatter the Parmesan evenly over top. Bake until mozzarella is melted and sauce is bubbling around the edges, .
- Heat broiler. Broil until pasta and cheese are dark brown in spots, about . Let pasta sit before serving.
- Garnish with parsley and serve!