Best 2 Baked Ziti With Spicy Pork And Sausage Rag Recipes

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BAKED ZITI WITH SAUSAGE



Baked Ziti with Sausage image

This is quite possibly the one thing that I am constantly asked to make. This is a ziti with a lot of flavor.

Provided by Ashley

Categories     World Cuisine Recipes     European     Italian

Time 1h

Yield 8

Number Of Ingredients 12

1 (16 ounce) package dry ziti pasta
1 pound mild Italian sausage
1 (15 ounce) container ricotta cheese
1 egg
1 large yellow onion, minced
2 teaspoons minced garlic
1 teaspoon dried oregano
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
1 ½ (26 ounce) jars spaghetti sauce, divided
1 (8 ounce) package shredded Italian cheese blend
1 teaspoon dried basil

Steps:

  • Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
  • Fill a large pot with lightly salted water and bring to a rolling boil over high heat. Once the water is boiling, stir in the ziti, and return to a boil. Cook the pasta uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the pasta has cooked through, but is still firm to the bite, about 8 minutes. Drain well in a colander set in the sink.
  • While pasta is cooking, heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the sausage, and cook and stir until brown, about 10 minutes. Drain sausage and set aside.
  • Stir together the ricotta, egg, onion, garlic, and oregano in a large bowl until well combined. Stir in the drained pasta, the drained sausage, salt, pepper, and 1/2 jar of the spaghetti sauce; mix well.
  • In the prepared baking dish, cover the bottom with 1/3 jar of spaghetti sauce. Layer 1/2 of the pasta mixture, 1/3 jar of spaghetti sauce, and 1/2 of the shredded cheese. Then layer the remaining 1/2 of the pasta, 1/3 of the sauce, and 1/2 of the cheese. Sprinkle with basil. Cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil.
  • Bake in the preheated oven until heated through, about 20 minutes. Uncover; return to the oven and bake until cheese is melted, 5 to 10 more minutes.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 649.4 calories, Carbohydrate 68.9 g, Cholesterol 85.5 mg, Fat 27.4 g, Fiber 5.9 g, Protein 30.7 g, SaturatedFat 12.3 g, Sodium 1485.1 mg, Sugar 14.9 g

BAKED ZITI WITH SPICY PORK AND SAUSAGE RAGù



Baked Ziti with Spicy Pork and Sausage Ragù image

How to Make Baked Ziti with Spicy Pork and Sausage Ragù

Categories     Garlic     Pasta     Pork     Tomato     Sauté     Super Bowl     Mozzarella     Bacon     Carrot     Red Wine     Winter     Thyme     Potluck     Simmer     Bon Appétit

Yield Makes 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 16

2 tablespoons olive oil
4 ounces thinly sliced pancetta,* chopped
2 pounds Boston butt (pork shoulder), cut into 1 1/4-inch cubes
1 pound Italian hot sausages, casings removed
2 cups chopped onions
3/4 cup chopped carrots
3/4 cup chopped celery
6 large fresh thyme sprigs
6 large garlic cloves, chopped
2 bay leaves
1/2 teaspoon dried crushed red pepper
2 cups dry red wine
1 28-ounce can plum tomatoes in juice, tomatoes chopped, juice reserved
1 1/4 pounds ziti pasta
2 cups (packed) coarsely grated whole-milk mozzarella cheese (about 8 ounces)
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Steps:

  • Heat olive oil in heavy large pot over medium-high heat. Add pancetta and sauté until brown and crisp. Using slotted spoon, transfer pancetta to bowl. Sprinkle pork with salt and pepper. Add half of pork to drippings in pot; sauté until brown, about 7 minutes. Transfer to bowl with pancetta. Repeat with remaining pork. Add sausage to same pot. Sauté until no longer pink, breaking up with back of fork, about 5 minutes. Add onions, carrots, celery, thyme, garlic, bay leaves, and crushed red pepper. Reduce heat to medium-low; sauté until vegetables are tender, about 10 minutes. Add wine and bring to boil, scraping up browned bits. Add pancetta and pork with any accumulated juices; boil 2 minutes. Add tomatoes with juice. Cover and cook until pork is very tender, adjusting heat as needed to maintain gentle simmer and stirring occasionally, about 2 hours.
  • Uncover pot; tilt to 1 side and spoon off fat from surface of ragù. Gently press pork pieces with back of fork to break up meat coarsely. Season ragù to taste with salt and pepper. (Can be made 2 days ahead. Cool slightly. Refrigerate uncovered until cold, then cover and keep refrigerated. Rewarm over low heat before continuing.)
  • Preheat oven to 400°F. Butter 15x10x2-inch glass baking dish or other 4-quart baking dish. Cook pasta in large pot of boiling salted water until tender but still firm to bite, stirring occasionally. Drain pasta; mix into ragù. Season mixture to taste with salt and pepper; transfer to prepared dish. Sprinkle both cheeses over. Bake until heated through and golden, about 20 minutes.
  • *Pancetta (Italian bacon cured in salt) is available at Italian markets and in the refrigerated deli case of many supermarkets.

Tips:

  • For the best flavor, use a combination of spicy pork and sweet Italian sausage.
  • Be sure to brown the sausage and pork thoroughly before simmering in the sauce.
  • Don't overcrowd the pan when browning the sausage and pork. If necessary, brown in batches.
  • Simmer the sauce for at least 30 minutes, or up to an hour, to develop the flavors.
  • Use a variety of cheeses in the filling, such as mozzarella, ricotta, and Parmesan.
  • Layer the ziti noodles, sauce, and cheese mixture in a casserole dish, ending with a layer of cheese.
  • Bake the ziti at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 30-35 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
  • Let the ziti rest for 10 minutes before serving.

Conclusion:

Baked ziti with spicy pork and sausage ragù is a delicious and hearty dish that is perfect for a family meal or a potluck. The combination of spicy pork, sweet sausage, and rich tomato sauce is sure to please everyone at the table. This dish is also relatively easy to make, and it can be prepared ahead of time and reheated when you are ready to serve. So next time you are looking for a comforting and delicious meal, give this baked ziti recipe a try.

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