Baked Ziti with Sausage

Ingrédients

1 package (16 ounces) ziti dry pulp 

1 pound sweet Italian sausage 

1 (15 ounce) container ricotta cheese 

1 egg 

1 large yellow onion, chopped 

2 teaspoons minced garlic 

1 teaspoon dried oregano 

1/2 teaspoon salt 

1/2 teaspoon black pepper 

1 1/2 (26 ounce) jars spaghetti sauce, divided 

1 (8 ounces) shredded Italian blend cheese 

1 teaspoon dried basil

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F ( 175 degrees C). Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish .

 

Fill a large pot with lightly salted water and bring to a boil . Once the water boils, add the ziti , and simmer . Cook the pasta uncovered , stirring occasionally, until pasta is cooked but firm to the bite, about 8 minutes. Drain well in a colander in the sink.

While pasta is cooking, heat a large skillet over medium heat . Add sausage and cook, stirring , until golden , about 10 minutes. Drain sausage and set aside.

 

Mix the ricotta , egg , onion , garlic and oregano in a large bowl and mix well. Add the drained pasta, drained sausage, salt, pepper and 1/2 jar of spaghetti sauce and mix well.

In the prepared baking dish , cover the bottom with 1/3 jar of spaghetti sauce. Coat half of the mixture of pulp, 1/3 jar spaghetti sauce and half of the cheese . Then , the residual layer of half of the pulp , a third of the sauce and half of the cheese . Sprinkle with basil. Cover dish well with foil.

Bake in preheated oven until hot , about 20 minutes. Discover, return to oven and bake until the cheese is melted 5 to 10 minutes.