Baked Ziti or Zitoni Pasta with Spicy Sausage – The Pasta Venture

Baked ziti pasta with spicy sausage, generally additionally referred to as ‘ziti alla diavola’ (devilled), is a implausible Neapolitan dish for individuals who love spicy meals! Pasta ready on this approach is de facto flavourful and this recipe is straightforward and quick to make.

Historical past

For this recipe, I used lengthy ziti made by a small pasta firm referred to as Pastificio Sorrentino from my journey to Gragnano which is a city in Naples, Campania. Ziti and its barely wider cousin zitoni are lengthy pasta initially from Campania, often comprised of durum wheat semolina and water.

They seem like slender tubes, however are each about 25 cm lengthy! This pasta is historically damaged into smaller items by hand earlier than cooking. However, for this recipe you possibly can maintain the items lengthy or break them. Already reduce ziti and zitoni are additionally that can be purchased.

There are a variety of scrumptious Italian recipes for baked Ziti or Zitoni from Campania, in addition to Puglia, Calabria and Sicily the place this pasta can also be widespread. As well as, Ziti can be utilized in different baked pasta recipes corresponding to these for candele (a good longer pasta!) or penne or rigatoni (pasta tubes). In the identical approach, in the event you can’t discover lengthy tubes, you should use quick ones as an alternative.

Elements

Ziti or Zitoni Pasta: Ziti and Zitoni is a tube-shaped pasta that’s excellent for baked dishes. Their hole facilities permit them to carry onto the sauce, making certain each chew is flavorful. If Ziti or Zitoni aren’t obtainable, different tube-shaped pasta like penne or rigatoni are nice substitutes.

Scamorza or Mozzarella Cheese: Some variations of this recipe are made with solely mozzarella or solely scamorza, however this time, I used each. You’ll be able to select to make use of both mozzarella or scamorza alone, or mix the 2 for a richer taste. I’ve additionally made this dish with smoked scamorza, which provides a scrumptious, barely smoky depth to the flavour. Be at liberty to experiment based mostly in your desire.

Spicy Sausage: The spicy sausage brings a sturdy, savory taste to the dish, including a pleasant kick to the sauce. In the event you don’t have entry to Italian Calabrian sausage, chorizo is a good different. Each sausages ought to be faraway from their casing and damaged into small items to evenly distribute all through the sauce.

White Wine: A splash of white wine within the sauce enhances the depth of taste, balancing the richness of the sausage.

Onion: Finely chopped onion is sautéed till softened to assist create the flavorful base of the sauce. I used pink onion for its sweetness, which pairs effectively with the wealthy sausage, however you can too use yellow onion if most well-liked.

Basil: Contemporary basil leaves are added to the sauce in direction of the top of cooking, including a refined and fragrant freshness.

Additional Virgin Olive Oil: Excessive-quality additional virgin olive oil is used to sauté the onions and sausage, including to the sauce’s flavorful base.

Pecorino Cheese: Grated pecorino is sprinkled on prime of the dish earlier than baking, including a pointy, salty end.

Knowledgeable Suggestions

Cook dinner Pasta Till Very Al Dente: Because the pasta will proceed to prepare dinner within the oven, prepare dinner the pasta till simply very al dente, about 2 minutes lower than the package deal directions. This may forestall the pasta from changing into too smooth or mushy after baking.

Easy methods to Decase Sausage: To take away the casing from sausage, begin by making a small slit down the size of the sausage with a pointy knife. Then, peel the casing again utilizing your fingers, ranging from the slit and dealing your approach down. As soon as the casing is eliminated, you possibly can break the sausage into small items by hand or with a spoon, making it simpler to brown evenly within the pan.

Step by Step Directions

1) In a skillet, warmth the additional virgin olive oil over medium warmth. Add the spicy sausage and onions and sauté the chopped onion is clear, about 6-8 minutes.

2) Pour within the white wine and improve the warmth to evaporate the alcohol. Add the cherry tomatoes (if utilizing) and allow them to prepare dinner for about 2 minutes.

3) Then add the tomato passata. Season with salt, scale back the warmth to medium and let the sauce simmer for about half-hour, stirring often. In direction of the top of cooking, stir within the chopped basil.

4) Preheat the oven to 390°F (200°C). Grease a baking dish with olive oil.

5) Put a pot of water on to boil for the pasta. Add salt as soon as it begins to boil and produce to the boil once more. Break the pasta into items if it is too lengthy to your pot. Cook dinner the pasta very al dente in line with the directions on the packet. Reserve a cup of pasta cooking water earlier than draining.

6) Combine the drained pasta with the tomato sauce, including a little bit of the reserved pasta cooking water if the sauce appears too dry.

7) Start layering the pasta within the baking dish, beginning with a layer of pasta and sauce. Add a layer of sliced cheese and a few sausage items. Repeat the layers, ending with a closing layer of pasta.

8) Prime the final pasta layer with the remaining slices of cheese and a beneficiant sprinkling of grated pecorino.

9) Bake within the preheated oven for about 20 minutes, or till the cheese is bubbly and begins to brown. For extra browning, place underneath the broiler for two minutes.

10) Let the baked pasta relaxation for a couple of minutes earlier than serving.

Storage and Leftovers

Permit the baked ziti with sausage to chill to room temperature earlier than storing. Retailer any leftovers in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 3 days. The flavors will proceed to develop, making the sauce much more flavorful the subsequent day.

Reheating: To reheat, you should use one of many following strategies:

Oven: Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F). Place the leftovers in an oven-safe dish, cowl with foil, and bake till sizzling, about 15-20 minutes.

Microwave: Place the leftovers in a microwave-safe dish, cowl, and warmth for two minutes, then combine. Proceed to warmth in 30 to 60-second intervals, mixing in between till sizzling all through.

FAQs

Extra Recipes You Might Like:

In case you are like me and love spicy pasta recipes, that is going to be one you will love. In the event you give it a attempt, do let me know the way it seems, both by commenting under or on the Pasta Venture Fb web page. And in the event you really feel it is price sharing with mates, please do. All of your suggestions and help is far appreciated!

Buon Appetito!

This recipe was initially revealed on fifth August 2017 however has been up to date.

Pin for Later:

In case you are interested by shopping for some conventional pasta making instruments try my store web page (affiliate hyperlinks). Plus when you’re there, why not order a duplicate of one among my pasta recipe cookbooks? They make nice prezzies for pasta lovers!