How To Make Baked Ziti With Tomato Sauce

Step 1: You will need:

Step 2: Preheat the oven

Before beginning your baked ziti, set the oven to 200ºC (400ºF/ or gas mark 6).

Step 3: Prepare the cheese mixture

Start by putting the ricotta cheese into a large bowl. Follow with the eggs, oregano, thyme and chilli. Season with salt and pepper and combine well with a large spoon.

Step 4: Add the pasta

Now add the pasta to the ricotta mixture and combine it together so that the pasta is thoroughly well-coated in the cheese mixture.

Step 5: Prepare for the oven

Next, transfer the mixed pasta and ricotta into the baking dish and level it with a spoon. Pour the tomato sauce on top of the pasta and gently combine the top level of the pasta with the sauce. Do not mix it in thoroughly -- this is just to intermingle the flavour of the sauce with that of the cheesy ziti. Now sprinkle the chopped basil on top. Finally, place the sliced mozzarella, evenly over the top.

Step 6: Bake

Put the baking dish into the centre of the preheated oven and bake for about 25 minutes or until it becomes crispy brown on top. Then remove from the oven.

Step 7: Serve

Before serving, allow it to cool for a couple of minutes. It goes very well with hot Italian bread and a good bottle of red wine.