Baked Ziti with Ricotta and Tomato Sauce

Created with AI. Review the ingredients, quantities and steps before cooking.

1. Mark step 1 done
   1

   Preheat the oven to 190°C. Bring the water to a boil in a large pot and add the salt. Add the ziti pasta and boil, stirring occasionally, for 2 minutes less than the package time for al dente, then drain and set aside.

2. Mark step 2 done
   2

   In a large saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and cook for about 1 min. Stir in the crushed tomatoes and dried oregano, and season with salt. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 15 min.

3. Mark step 3 done
   3

   In a medium bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, egg, vegetarian Parmesan cheese, and black pepper until smooth.

4. Mark step 4 done
   4

   If you plan to freeze the dish instead of baking it now, first cool the drained pasta and the sauce separately in shallow containers in the refrigerator, then assemble them cold. Spread a thin layer of the crushed tomatoes sauce evenly across the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking dish. Toss the cooked ziti pasta with the rest of the sauce, then spread half of the coated pasta into the dish.

5. Mark step 5 done
   5

   Drop spoonfuls of the ricotta cheese mixture evenly over the pasta in the dish. Sprinkle the vegetarian mozzarella cheese over the ricotta layer. Top with the remaining pasta, then scatter the vegetarian mozzarella cheese evenly over the top.

6. Mark step 6 done
   6

   To bake immediately, cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil and bake for 30 min. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 15 min, or until the cheese is melted, bubbling, and lightly browned on top.

7. Mark step 7 done
   7

   To freeze instead of baking, wrap the assembled cold dish tightly with plastic wrap and a layer of aluminum foil and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator, remove the plastic wrap, and bake as in step 6, adding about 15 minutes to the covered time, until the center reaches 74°C.

Created with AI. Review the ingredients, quantities and steps before cooking.