Burrata Baked Ziti with Extra Veg
User Reviews
5
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Prep Time
15 mins
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Cook Time
20 mins
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Total Time
35 mins
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Servings
6 to 8
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Course
Main Course
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Cuisine
American
Burrata Baked Ziti with Extra Veg
Description
This dish starts by cooking ziti pasta until just tender. Meanwhile, vegetables including diced sweet onion, bell pepper, and zucchini are sautéed with garlic and seasoned with basil, oregano, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Tomato paste and dry red wine enrich the sauce’s flavor before adding jarred marinara.
The cooked pasta is combined with the vegetable marinara sauce, parmesan, and mozzarella cheeses, then layered in a baking dish. Burrata cheese is added on top or mixed in, contributing a creamy, fresh cheese texture that contrasts with the melted mozzarella. Baking melts the cheeses and deepens the sauce, creating a luscious texture with both melted and creamy cheesiness.
Fresh herbs sprinkled before serving add aroma and color. This baked ziti works well as a comforting main course, combining the vegetables’ natural sweetness with the rich, cheesy tomato sauce and tender pasta.
Leftover roasted or grilled vegetables can replace sautéing to save preparation time. Using fresh burrata adds freshness and richness; otherwise, more mozzarella can be used.
Ingredients
- 1 pound ziti pasta
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 sweet onion diced
- 3 garlic minced, cloves
- 1 bell pepper diced
- salt kosher salt
- black pepper kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon basil
- ½ teaspoon oregano
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper
- 1 zucchini diced, medium
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 3 tablespoons red wine dry
- 1 marinara sauce 32 ounce jar; fire roasted as alternative
- ¼ cup Parmesan Cheese finely grated
- 8 ounces mozzarella cheese freshly grated
- 1 or 2 (8-ounce) ball of burrata cheese
- fresh herb like basil or parsley, for sprinkling
Instructions
- Note: I love to use leftover roasted or grilled vegetables for this recipe, which eliminates the step of sautéing them in the skillet. You can also roast or sauté the vegetables ahead of time to save a few minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the ziti until al dente, according to the package instructions.
- While the pasta is cooking, heat a large skillet over medium-low heat and add the olive oil. Add in the onions, peppers and garlic with a big pinch of salt and pepper. Stir in the basil, oregano and red pepper flakes. Cook for 5 minutes, until slightly softened. Stir in the zucchini and cook for 3 minutes more. Stir in the tomato paste. Stir in the red wine.
- Pour the marinara sauce in the skillet. Stir in the parmesan and toss everything together. By now, the pasta should be finished cooking. Place it in a 9x13 baking dish. Pour the marinara sauce mixture over top. Sprinkle on the mozzarella cheese, tossing once or twice to stir it into the pasta.
- Break apart the balls of burrata and place them over the pasta. Bake for 20 minutes, or until the cheese is just golden and bubbly.
Notes
- Using leftover roasted or grilled vegetables can speed up the preparation process.
- Fresh burrata provides a creamy texture, but you can substitute extra mozzarella if unavailable.
- Sauté vegetables until just softened before adding tomato paste and wine for deeper flavor.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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