Baked Ziti Casserole

By Hklbrries

Ingredients

• Sauce:
• 1/4 cup olive or salad oil
• 1 cup onion, finely chopped
• 1 clove garlic, crushed
• 1 (2 pounds 3 ounces) can Italian tomatoes
• 1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
• 2 tbsp chopped parsley
• 1 tbsp salt
• 1 tbsp sugar
• 1 tsp dried oregano leaves
• 1/2 tsp dried basil leaves
• 1/4 tsp pepper
• 1 (1 pound) package ziti macaroni
• Cheese Layer:
• 2 (15 ounce) cartons ricotta cheese
• 1 (8 ounce) package mozzarella cheese, diced
• 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
• 2 eggs
• 1 tbsp chopped parsley
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp pepper
• 3 tbsp Parmesan cheese

Details

Servings 8

Preparation

Step 1

Sauce: In hot oil in 6-quart kettle, saute onion and garlic until golden brown - about 10 minutes. Add undrained tomatoes, tomato paste, 1 1/2 cups water, 2 tbsp parsley, 1 tbsp salt, sugar, oregano, basil, and 1/4 tsp pepper; mix well, mashing tomatoes with fork. Simmer, covered but stirring occasionally, 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 350 F. Cook ziti as package label directs.

Cheese Layer: In large bowl, comibne ricotta, mozzarella, 1/3 cup Parmesan, eggs, parsley, salt, and pepper; beat with wooden spoon until blended.

Spoon a little sauce into 5-quart casserole. Layer a third of ziti, cheese mixture, and remaining sauce. Sprinkle sauce with 1 tablespoon Parmesan. Repeat twice.

Bake, uncovered, 45 minutes, or until bubbling in center.