Baked Ziti with Italian Sausage

By ezunich

Ingredients

• 1 lb bulk Italian sausage
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1 1/2 cup diced onions
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh garlic
• 2 tsp dried Italian seasoning
• 1 tsp red pepper flakes
• 2 (28 oz) cans whole tomatoes
• 8 oz mascarpone cheese
• 1 lb ziti
• 1 lb provolone cheese cut into 1/2 inch cubes
• 1 cup graded parmesan cheese

Preparation

Step 1

Preheat oven to 400°. Coat a 4 qt casserole dish with spray. Cook sausage in oil in a saucepan crushing with a potato masher until fine and cooked through, 5-7 minutes. Transfer to a bowl. Sweat onions, garlic, Italian seasoning and pepper flakes in dripping over medium heat. covered, stirring occasionally, until onions soften, 10 minutes. Stir in tomatoes and sausage, bring sauce to a simmer and cook 15 minutes; cool 15 minutes. Stir in mascarpone, then season sauce with salt and black pepper. Cook ziti for 8 minutes. Combine sauce, ziti and provolone; transfer to prepared side, then sprinkle with Parmesan. Bake ziti until hot throughout and bubbling around the edges, about 30 minutes. Let rest 20 minutes.