Baked Ziti with Italian Sausage

(from castro15’s recipe box)

Categories: Pasta

Ingredients

  • 1 lb bulk Italian sausage
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1 1/2 cups diced onions
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh garlic
  • 2 tsp dried Italian seasoning
  • 1 tsp red pepper flakes
  • 2- 28 oz cans whole tomatoes in puree, crushed
  • 8 oz mascarpone cheese
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • 1 lb dry ziti
  • 1 lb provolone cheese, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
  • 1 cup grated Parmesan

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 400. Coat a 4-qt casserole dish with nonstick spray.

  2. For the sauce, cook sausage in oil in a saucepan over medium heat, crushing with a potato masher until fine and cooked through, 5-7 minutes; transfer to a bowl.

  3. Sweat onions, garlic, Italian seasoning, and pepper flakes in drippings over medium heat, covered, stirring occasionally, until onions soften, 10 minutes.

  4. Stir in tomatoes and sausage, bring sauce to a simmer, and cook 15 minutes; cool 15 minutes. Stir in mascarpone, then season sauce with salt and pepper.

  5. For the pasta, cook ziti in a pot of boiling salted water 8 minutes; drain.

  6. Combine sauce, ziti and provolone; transfer to prepared dish, then sprinkle with Parmesan.

  7. Bake ziti until hot throughout and bubbling around the edges, about 30 minutes. Let ziti rest 20 minutes before serving.

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