Baked Ziti with Fresh Tomato Sauce
Ingredients
- 6 eggs
- 4 pounds ricotta cheese
- 2 tablespoons fresh thyme
- 2 tablespoons fresh oregano
- 2 tablespoons fresh basil
- salt and pepper
- 3 pounds Italian sausage links
- 4 pounds ziti, cooked, refreshed and drained
- 8 ounces Parmesan cheese, grated
- 3 quarts fresh tomato sauce (recipe follows)
- 2 pounds Mozzarella cheese, shredded
Instructions
Combine the eggs, ricotta cheese, thyme, oregano, basil, salt and pepper. Mix well and reserve. Place the sausage links in a 2-inch-deep full-sized hotel pan. Cook in a 350 F oven for 20 minutes. Remove and cool. Drain the sausage. Slice the links into rounds and reserve. Place the ziti in the hotel pan that was used to cook the sausage. Top with an even coating of the cheese mixture, sausage slices and Parmesan cheese. Pour the tomato sauce over the top layer and stir slightly to distribute the sauce. Bake at 375 F for 1 hour. Sprinkle the mozzarella evenly over the pasta and return to the oven for 10 minutes. Serve. Fresh Tomato Sauce 8 oz onion, small dice 4 oz carrot, small dice 1 tablespoon garlic, minced 2 oz olive oil 7 pounds tomato concasse 1 tablespoon fresh oregano 2 tablespoon fresh thyme salt pepper 1/2 oz fresh basil, chopped Sweat the onion, carrot and garlic in the olive oil until tender. Add the concasse and herbs. Simmer for about 1 hour or until the desired consistency is reached. Pass the sauce through a food mill if a smooth consistency is desired. Adjust seasonings and add the chopped basil.
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