Hearty ziti pasta baked with burst cherry tomatoes, ricotta, and golden cheese. Comfort food made easy.
# Components:
→ Pasta
01 - 14 oz ziti pasta
→ Tomato Sauce
02 - 2 tbsp olive oil
03 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1.3 lbs cherry tomatoes, halved
05 - 2 tbsp tomato paste
06 - 1 tsp dried oregano
07 - 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
08 - 1 tsp sugar
09 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
→ Cheese
10 - 9 oz ricotta cheese
11 - 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
12 - 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
13 - 2 tbsp fresh basil, chopped (plus more for garnish)
# Directions:
01 - Preheat your oven to 400°F.
02 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the ziti until just shy of al dente, about 2 minutes less than package instructions. Drain and set aside.
03 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant. Add the cherry tomatoes, tomato paste, oregano, red pepper flakes, sugar, salt, and pepper. Cook, stirring often, until tomatoes burst and release their juices, about 8–10 minutes. Remove the skillet from heat and stir in chopped basil.
04 - In a large mixing bowl, combine the drained ziti, tomato sauce, and ricotta cheese. Mix gently until pasta is well coated.
05 - Transfer half the pasta mixture to a 9x13 inch baking dish. Sprinkle with half the mozzarella and Parmesan. Layer remaining pasta on top, finishing with the rest of the mozzarella and Parmesan.
06 - Bake uncovered for 20–25 minutes, until the cheese is melted and golden.
07 - Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes. Garnish with fresh basil and serve hot.
