Baked ZITI is an Italian pasta casserole that is made with pasta, meat sauce, cheese and marinara sauce. This is a favorable quick meal idea as it is easy and very fast to prepare with easy to get ingredients.

It is made with pre-prepared marinara sauce which is a combination of flavors that are both aromatic and sweet.

It is a comfort food and also very filling, it is an ideal meal for those who want to add some some weight as it is full of fats, carbohydrates and proteins.

Ingredients For Making Baked Ziti

• 500 g Minced beef
• 250 g penne pasta
• 1 tbsp. ghee
• 2 large onions
• 4 garlic cloves
• 2 tsp. paprika powder
• 1/2 tsp. white pepper powder
• 2 cups marinara sauce
• 10 g ricotta
• 30 g mozzarella cheese
• small bunch fresh basil

How To Prepare Baked ZITI

1. Boil 2 liters of water, add salt then the penne and boil until the pasta is tender.
2. Drain the pasta using a colander and put aside.
3. Take a sauce pan and put on medium heat, add the ghee and let it heat up, add the onions and cook until tender then add the minced beef, add salt and paprika and mix well, cover and cook on low heat for about 20 minutes.
4. Add the crushed garlic, mix well and cook for 5 minutes, then add the marinara sauce, mix well and cover and cook for 10 minutes on low heat.
5. Add the ricotta cheese, mix well and cook for 2 minutes, add the shredded basil leaves and mix well.
6. Take an oven proof baking bowl, add some meat sauce at the bottom of the baking tray to avoid the pasta sticking at the bottom of the baking tray.
7. Add the pasta into the meat sauce and combine well, add half of the mixture into the baking tray, them add half the cheese, then add the rest of the pasta mixture then top with the remaining cheese.
8. Put in a preheated oven at 350 degrees and bake for 25 minutes.
9. Serve while still hot. You can serve with garlic bread or green salad on the side.