ITALIAN = Baked Ziti

By pattiwarner

Ingredients

• 1 lb. Italian sausage
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1 1/2 cups diced onions
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh garlic
• 2 tsp. dried Italian seasoning
• 1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes
• 2 28 oz each cans crushed tomatoes, Cento
• 8 oz. mascarpone cheese
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 lb. ziti, cooked for 8 minutes
• 1 lb. provolone, cut into 1/2 inch cubes
• 1 cup grated Parmesan

Details

Servings 10
Preparation time 60mins
Cooking time 90mins

Preparation

Step 1

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Coat a 4 qt. baking dish with nonstick spray.
Cook sausage in oil over medium heat crushing with a potato masher until fine and cooked through. Transfer to bowl.
Sweat onions, garlic, Italian seasoning, and pepper flakes in drippings over medium heat, covered until onions soften, 10 minutes.
Stir in tomatoes and sausage. Bring to simmer and cook 15 minutes. Cool 15 minutes. Stir in mascarpone and season with salt and black pepper.
Combine sauce, ziti and provolone. Transfer to baking dish and sprinkle with Parmesan.
Bake ziti until hot throughout and bubbling on edges, about 30 minutes. Let rest before serving.