Baked Ziti With Two Mozzarellas And Parmesan Cream Sauce Recipe

Cooking Directions

• STEP 1.Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and grease a baking dish.
• STEP 2.Cook the ziti pasta according to package instructions until al dente.
• STEP 3.In a saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add flour and cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly.
• STEP 4.Gradually whisk in milk and bring to a simmer. Cook for 5 minutes until the sauce thickens.
• STEP 5.Remove the saucepan from heat and stir in grated Parmesan cheese until melted and smooth.
• STEP 6.In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked ziti pasta and Parmesan cream sauce. Mix well to coat the pasta evenly.
• STEP 7.In the greased baking dish, layer half of the ziti mixture. Top with half of the shredded mozzarella cheese.
• STEP 8.Repeat the layers with the remaining ziti mixture and mozzarella cheese.
• STEP 9.Cover the baking dish with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Then, remove the foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes until the cheese is golden and bubbly.
• STEP 10.Remove from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes before serving.
• STEP 11.Serve the Baked Ziti with Two Mozzarellas and Parmesan Cream Sauce hot, garnished with fresh basil leaves, if desired.

Cooking Tips

• You can use any type of short pasta instead of ziti, such as penne or rigatoni.
• For a richer flavor, you can add cooked Italian sausage or ground beef to the ziti mixture.
• To make the dish ahead of time, assemble the ziti and cheese layers in the baking dish, cover tightly, and refrigerate. Bake it when ready to serve, adding a few extra minutes to the baking time.
• Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven or microwave before serving.

Storage and Serving

• Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
• Reheat the leftovers in the oven or microwave until heated through.
• Serve the Baked Ziti with Two Mozzarellas and Parmesan Cream Sauce hot, garnished with fresh basil leaves, if desired.