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Vegetarian Baked Ziti

A comforting and delicious baked ziti packed with vibrant vegetables and rich marinara, perfect for both vegetarians and meat lovers.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Calories: 360
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Pasta and Sauce
  • 3/4 lb Ziti or Penne pasta
  • 6 cups quality marinara sauce store-bought is fine
Vegetables
  • 1 medium red onion, chopped
  • 2 small zucchini, diced
  • 1 piece bell pepper (orange or red), diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tsp dry oregano
  • 1/2 tsp sweet paprika
Cheese
  • 1 cup ricotta cheese (part-skim recommended)
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided 1/4 cup for filling, 1/4 cup for topping
  • 6 oz shredded Mozzarella cheese, divided 3 tbsp for filling, remainder for assembling and topping
Miscellaneous
  • 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil Early Harvest Greek extra virgin olive oil recommended
  • fresh basil leaves, torn or chopped about 10 leaves

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Heat your oven to 375 degrees F.
  2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the ziti or penne pasta and cook al dente according to package instructions. Reserve about 1/2 cup of the starchy cooking water before draining the pasta.
Cooking
  1. Heat 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chopped onions and cook for about 3 minutes.
  2. Add diced zucchini, bell pepper, and minced garlic. Increase the heat to medium-high and cook for 6 to 8 minutes until vegetables are softened.
  3. Season with kosher salt, oregano, and sweet paprika. Set aside.
  4. In a mixing bowl, combine ricotta cheese, 1/4 cup grated Parmesan, and 3 tablespoons shredded mozzarella. Mix well.
  5. Return the drained pasta to the pot. Add half of the marinara sauce and the reserved pasta cooking water. Stir to coat the pasta.
  6. Gently fold in the ricotta cheese filling.
Assembly
  1. Spread a thin layer of marinara sauce on the bottom of a casserole dish.
  2. Add half of the sauced pasta, then the sautéed vegetables and torn basil. Sprinkle a small amount of shredded mozzarella over the veggies.
  3. Add the remaining pasta and spread the remaining marinara sauce on top. Finish with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
Baking
  1. Place the casserole dish in the preheated oven and bake uncovered for about 30 minutes.
  2. Remove from oven and let it rest for 10 to 15 minutes before slicing and serving. Garnish with fresh basil.

Notes

Serve with a salad, garlic bread, or roasted vegetables. Reheat leftovers in the oven or microwave. Optionally, freeze for up to three months.