Ingredients:

  • 1 lb Ziti pasta (450g)
  • 1 tbsp Sea salt
  • 0.5 lb Italian sausage (225g), casings removed
  • 0.5 lb Lean ground beef (225g) (85/15)
  • 3 cups Marinara sauce (710ml)
  • 3 cloves Garlic, minced
  • 1 tsp Dried oregano
  • 15 oz Whole-milk ricotta cheese (425g)
  • 1 Large egg, lightly beaten
  • 0.5 cup Grated Parmesan cheese (50g)
  • 2 cups Shredded mozzarella cheese (225g)
  • 0.25 cup Fresh parsley, chopped

Instructions:

  1. Boil the 1 lb (450g) of ziti in salted water (1 tbsp sea salt). Cook for exactly 2 mins less than the box instructions. Note: It should have a firm bite in the center since it cooks more in the oven.
  2. Brown the 0.5 lb (225g) sausage and 0.5 lb (225g) beef in a large skillet. Sauté until no pink remains and edges are crisp.
  3. Add the 3 minced cloves of garlic and 1 tsp oregano to the meat. Cook 1 minute until fragrant, then stir in the 3 cups (710ml) of marinara sauce.
  4. In a bowl, combine the 15 oz (425g) ricotta, beaten egg, 0.5 cup (50g) Parmesan, and half of the parsley. Whisk until the mixture is uniform and silky.
  5. Spread a thin layer of meat sauce on the bottom of the baking dish. Top with half the pasta, then dollop the ricotta mixture over the ziti.
  6. Pour the remaining meat sauce over the ricotta layer. Top with the remaining pasta and the rest of the sauce to seal everything in.
  7. Sprinkle the 2 cups (225g) of mozzarella over the top. Bake at 180°C (350°F) for 30 minutes.
  8. Remove from oven once the cheese is bubbly and charred at the edges. Rest for 10 mins before serving. Note: This allows the sauce to thicken and the layers to set.