Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 large onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 500 g ground beef or ground chicken
- 800 g canned crushed tomatoes
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 250 ml water
- 400 g ziti pasta
- 250 g ricotta cheese
- 1 large egg
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Boil salted water and cook ziti pasta until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Heat olive oil in a skillet, sauté onion for 5 minutes, then add garlic and cook briefly.
- Add ground meat and cook until browned.
- Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, salt, pepper, oregano, basil, and water. Simmer for 15–20 minutes.
- In a bowl, mix ricotta cheese with egg until smooth.
- Preheat oven to 180°C and grease a baking dish.
- Layer sauce, pasta, ricotta mixture, and mozzarella in the dish.
- Repeat layers, finishing with mozzarella and parmesan on top.
- Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes.
- Remove foil and bake another 10–15 minutes until golden and bubbly.
- Let rest 5–10 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Use ground chicken for a lighter option.
- Add vegetables like spinach or mushrooms for variation.
- Ensure sauce is not too thick to prevent dryness.
- Can be assembled ahead and baked later.
- Freezes well for up to 2 months.
- Reheat with a splash of water or sauce to maintain moisture.
- Let rest before serving for easier slicing.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Halal
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 620mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 85mg
