Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 Italian sausage , sliced
1 onion , finely chopped
2 cups mushrooms , sliced
3 garlic cloves , minced
salt
ground black pepper
28 ounces crushed tomatoes with juice
1 teaspoon italian seasoning
1 lb ziti pasta
1 bunch rapini , cut into 1-1/2-inch long pieces
parmesan cheese
2 cups mozzarella cheese , shredded
Baked ziti is a classic Italian-American dish that is typically made with ziti pasta, tomato sauce, and melted cheese. This version of baked ziti adds Italian sausage and rapini to the mix, making it a heartier and more flavorful meal. The sausage provides richness and depth of flavor, while the rapini adds a touch of bitterness and greenness to the dish. This recipe is perfect for a weeknight dinner with the family, or for entertaining a large group of guests. It can be easily customized to your own taste preferences, by using different types of pasta, sausage, or vegetables.

Instructions

1.Preheat the oven to 375°F.
2.Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the sliced Italian sausage and cook until browned, about 5-7 minutes.
3.Add the finely chopped onion, sliced mushrooms, and minced garlic to the skillet with the sausage. Season with salt and black pepper. Cook until the onions are translucent, about 5-7 minutes.
4.Add the crushed tomatoes with juice and Italian seasoning to the skillet. Simmer for about 10 minutes.
5.Meanwhile, cook the ziti pasta according to package instructions. Add the cut rapini to the boiling water in the last 2 minutes of cooking. Drain the pasta and rapini, and mix with the tomato and sausage sauce.
6.Transfer the pasta and sauce mixture to a large baking dish. Sprinkle parmesan cheese and shredded mozzarella cheese over the top.
7.Bake for about 25-30 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbly.

PROS

This recipe is a hearty and flavorful meal that will satisfy the whole family.
The sausage and mushrooms add richness and depth of flavor to the tomato sauce, while the rapini provides a touch of green and healthy nutrients.
Baked ziti is a classic comfort food that is easy to make and easy to customize to your own taste preferences.

CONS

This recipe is not suitable for vegans or vegetarians, as it contains Italian sausage.
Additionally, the amount of cheese used in this recipe adds a significant amount of calories and fat, so it should be enjoyed in moderation as part of a balanced diet.

HEALTH & BENEFITS

This recipe contains rapini, which is a type of broccoli that is high in vitamin C, vitamin K, and calcium. It also contains lutein and zeaxanthin, two antioxidants that are believed to support eye health. The tomato sauce in this recipe contains lycopene, another antioxidant that may help reduce the risk of some types of cancer. However, the high fat and calorie content of this recipe means that it should be enjoyed in moderation as part of a balanced diet.

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