Ziti With Roasted Zucchini Food

ZITI WITH ROASTED ZUCCHINI AND GARLIC

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Toss zucchini, shallots, 5 tablespoons oil, garlic, and crushed red pepper in a bowl until coated. Spread on rimmed baking sheets and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
• Roast vegetables in the preheated oven, turning occasionally, until tender, about 30 minutes.
• While vegetables are roasting, bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook ziti pasta at a boil, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, 9 to 12 minutes. Drain, reserving 3/4 cup cooking water.
• Toss cooked pasta with 1 tablespoon oil. Transfer to a large pot. Add roasted vegetables, 1/4 cup cooking water, and remaining 1 tablespoon oil; stir over medium heat until heated through. Add 3/4 cup basil and Parmesan cheese. Toss, adding remaining cooking water, 1 tablespoon at a time, if dry. Season with salt and pepper. Serve with remaining basil sprinkled on top.

BAKED ZITI WITH ROASTED VEGETABLES

Steps:

• To roast the veggies: Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit with racks in the middle and upper third of the oven. Line two large, rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent the vegetables from sticking.
• Place the cauliflower florets on one pan. On the other pan, combine the bell peppers and onion. Drizzle half of the olive oil over one pan, and the other half over the other pan. Sprinkle the salt over the two pans. Gently toss until the vegetables on each pan are lightly coated in oil.
• Arrange the vegetables in an even layer across each pan. Bake until the vegetables are tender and caramelized on the edges, about 30 to 35 minutes, tossing the veggies and swapping their rack positions halfway (lower rack to upper rack, and vice versa). Leave the oven on at 425, because we're going to bake the dish at the same temperature. If you end up with any stray burnt onion pieces, discard them, and set the vegetables aside.
• Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Cook the pasta just until al dente, according to package directions (it will continue to cook while it bakes in the oven, so you want the pasta to still have a little bite to it). Drain and return the pasta to the pot.
• Add 2 cups of the marinara, the chopped basil, and 1/2 cup of the mozzarella to the pasta. Gently stir to combine.
• It's assembly time! Spread 1 cup of additional marinara sauce inside a 9×13″ baker. Top with half of the pasta mixture, and gently spread it into an even layer. Evenly sprinkle the roasted cauliflower on top, then dollop 1 cup of the cottage cheese over the cauliflower (it doesn't need to be spread into an even layer), followed by 1/2 cup of the mozzarella.
• Top the mozzarella with the remaining pasta. Then sprinkle the roasted peppers and onion on top, dollop the remaining cup of ricotta on top, then dollop the remaining cup of marinara on that, then sprinkle the remaining cheese all over.
• Place a clean, rimmed baking sheet on the lower oven rack to catch any drippings. Place the ziti, uncovered, on top of the baking sheet. Bake for 30 minutes, then transfer to the upper rack for 2 to 5 more minutes until the cheese is deeply golden, if desired.
• Remove the baker from the oven and let it cool for 10 minutes before serving (trust me). Sprinkle freshly torn basil on top, slice with a sharp knife, and serve.

ZUCCHINI BAKED ZITI

Steps:

• Boil water and cook the ziti according to package directions.
• While it is cooking, follow next steps.
• When it is done, drain and set aside in large bowl (or pot).
• Slice the zucchini.
• In a skillet, heat 1/4 cup olive oil and fry the zucchini until browned on both sides.
• Take them out of the pan and drain on paper towels.
• In a saucepan, heat the remaining 1/4 cup oil.
• Add the onion and cook until translucent.
• Add the garlic and cook for 2 minutes.
• Add the tomatoes, basil, parsley, salt and pepper.
• Simmer uncovered for 20 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Pour into large bowl with the drained ziti.
• Rub two shallow baking pans with olive oil.
• In the first pan, put 1/4 of the ziti, then 1/4 of the zucchini.
• Dot with butter, add 1/4 of the mozzarella and then 1/4 of the Parmesan.
• Repeat the layers in that pan.
• Repeat above steps for second pan.
• Bake pans in a 350-degree oven for 30 minutes until the top is brown and crusty.
• OR BAKE ONE, FREEZE ONE!
• OR FREEZE BOTH: Cover the other pan tightly with aluminum foil and freeze.
• Defrost before baking.