BEST-EVER BAKED ZITI

BEST-EVER BAKED ZITI image

Yield 10 servings

Number Of Ingredients 16

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1 lb whole milk cottage cheese
2 lg eggs, lightly beaten
1 1/2 cups grated Parmesan cheese
Salt
1 lb ziti
2 Tbs extra-virgin olive oil
6 garlic cloves, minced
1 (28-oz) can tomato sauce
1 (14.5-oz) can diced tomatoes
1 tsp dried oregano
1/2 c + 2 Tbs chopped fresh basil
1 tsp sugar
Pepper
1 c heavy cream
3/4 tsp cornstarch
8 oz mozzarella cut into 1/4-inch pcs.*

Steps:

1. Adjust oven rack to middle of oven and preheat to 350 degrees. 2.Whisk cottage cheese, eggs, and 1 cup of Parmesan cheese together in a med bowl. 3. Bring 4 qts water to a boil in a Dutch oven. Add 1 Tbs salt and the pasta. Cook stirring often, until nearly tender. Drain pasta and leave in colander (do not wash Dutch Oven). 4. Meanwhile, heat oil and garlic in a large skillet over med heat until fragrant but not brown, about 2 min. Stir in tomato sauce, diced tomatoes & oregano and simmer until thickened, about 10 minutes. Off the heat, stir in 1/2 cup of basil and the sugar, then season w/salt & pepper to taste. 5. Stir the cream & cornstarch together in a small bowl,transfer mixture to the now empty Dutch oven. Bring to simmer over medium heat & cook until thickened, 3 - 4 min. Off heat, add cottage cheese mixture, 1 c tomato sauce and half of the mozarrella, then stir to combine. Add the pasta and stir to coat thoroughly. Transfer the pasta mixture to a 13x9" baking dish & spread the remaining tomato sauce evenly over the top. Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella plus 1/2 c Parmesan evenly over top of dish.(STOP HERE if making ahead.) 6. Spray a large sheet of foil w/oil and cover baking dish tightly. Bake 30 min - REMOVE foil & continue to cook for about 30 more min until cheese is bubbling and beginning to brown. Cool for about 10 minutes before sprinkling remaining basil over top.