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Baked Ziti made with Vodka Sauce

Baked Ziti with Vodka Sauce

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Ingredients
  

  • 16 oz ziti
  • 3 tbsp salted butter
  • 1/2 yellow onion diced
  • 4 cloves garlic diced
  • 3 tbsp tomato paste
  • 4-5 tbsp vodka
  • 10 basil leaves
  • 42 ounces crushed tomatoes canned
  • 12 oz heavy cream
  • 16 oz mozzarella part skim
  • 12 oz fontina cheese
  • 1 tsp oregano
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 cup parmesan cheese shredded
  • 15 oz part skim ricotta
  • 1/4 tsp sea salt

Instructions
 

Vodka Sauce

  • Start making your vodka sauce by adding butter to a large pot on medium heat
  • Once the butter is melted, add in your onions and garlic and cook for 7 minutes or until soft
  • Add in your tomato paste and mix well. Then, add in your vodka, mix well, and let it simmer for 3 minutes
  • Add in your crushed tomatoes and sea salt and then cook it for 20 minutes on low heat. Once your sauce is ready, add it a high speed blender with your fresh basil. Blend it until super creamy
  • Add the sauce back to your pot and cook it for an additional 5 minutes. Then, turn off your heat and add in your heavy cream and only a 1/2 cup of parmesan.

Baked Ziti

  • Boil your pasta until al dente(about 8 minutes). It will continue to cook while it is baking. Once it is done boiling, add it to a bowl with 1 cup of the vodka sauce.
  • Preheat your oven to 350F
  • Make the ricotta cheese mixture by combining the ricotta cheese, egg, 6 ounces of fontina cheese, remaining parmesan cheese, garlic powder, and oregano.
  • Assemble the baked ziti in a 9x13 baking dish. Add 1.5 cups of vodka sauce to the bottom of the dish, followed by half of your ricotta mixture. Then, add the ziti, another 1.5-2 cups of sauce, remaining ricotta cheese, and then top it with the rest of the fontina cheese and mozzarella cheese.
    Baked Ziti with Vodka Sauce
  • Place the baked ziti in the oven for 30-35 minutes uncovered. Once the top layer of cheese is bubbling and lightly brown it is ready. Let the dish cool for 10 minutes before serving.