Ziti Al Forno Recipe

Create mouthwatering joy by cooking up this oven-baked Ziti mixed with tasty homemade Bolognese sauce and a lot of stringy, lovely, delicious melted cheese with a crispy top!

Ingredients for Bolognese Sauce

• 1lb Chopped beef
• ½ lb Chopped pork
• 1 cup onion (finely chopped)
• 1 carrot (finely chopped)
• 1 celery stalk (finely chopped)
• 2 tbs extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tbs tomato paste
• Half a cup of white wine
• Quarter of a tsp: your choice of: rosemary, nutmeg, or, juniper

Method for Bolognese Sauce

1. Add 2 tbs of extra virgin olive oil to a large pot and heat. Add chopped onions, carrots and celery to the pot and simmer over low-medium heat for 15 min or to the point the vegetables are softened and the onions are translucent. When the vegetables are done, increase heat to medium high.
2. Add the chopped meat to the pot and slightly brown the meat, breaking up with a wooden spoon. Once the meat is browned, add wine and let it cook until wine evaporates. Then add tomato paste, the herb of your choice and salt and pepper.
3. Simmer for 2 – 3 hours at a very low heat

Prep time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 2–3 hours (can be served at 2 hours, but will add some flavor the longer the sauce simmers).

Topping of the Baked Ziti can be a bechamel sauce, here’s a recipe for ours. Or you can use shredded Mozzarella or a 4 cheese Italian blend.

Ingredients for Bechamel Sauce

• 2 tbs butter
• 2 tbs flour
• 2 cups milk
• A pinch of salt
• Nutmeg

Method for Bechamel Sauce

1. In a sauté pan over medium heat, add butter and flour and continuously stir until well mixed and smooth.
2. Add hot milk slowly and keep on stirring with a wooden spoon or a whisk. Simmer for 15 min.
3. Add salt and nutmeg. The sauce will thicken as you continue stirring.

Prep time: none
Cook time: 15 minutes

Ingredients for Baked Ziti

• 1 bag of Felicetti Organic Ziti
• Bolognese sauce
• Bechamel sauce or shredded mozzarella or 4 cheese Italian blend (1 package of Shredded cheese should be enough but you can use more cheese if you’d like)
• Grated Parmigiano Reggiano

Method for Baked Ziti

1. Cook ziti “al dente” and drain and put in a mixing bowl.
2. Add the Bolognese sauce.
3. In a casserole dish, add a layer of the ziti mixture. Then, spread the bechamel sauce or cheese on top.
4. Repeat this for 2 or 3 layers. Place the casserole in a 350-degree oven for 15 minutes. To finish, sprinkle the parmesan cheese on top and place under the broiler until the top is a golden brown.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 15 minutes in the oven, 5 minutes in broiler