Baked ziti with turkey sausage
7
Points®
Total time: 50 min • Prep: 15 min • Cook: 35 min • Serves: 8 • Difficulty: Easy
Here's a comfort-food classic, a dish that's sure to get everyone to the table the minute it comes out of the oven. It's cheesy and filling and colorful and everything you could ask for in a baked ziti. The ziti is flavored with turkey sausage, onions, green peppers, green peas, and a variety of dried herbs such as oregano, basil, and thyme. Feel free to substitute other veggies and spices with whatever you have in your pantry or fridge. Top with shredded mozzarella and let the ziti bake away. You have to let it stand for 10 minutes after baking to let it set, no matter how irresistible the smell of it is coming out of the oven.
Ingredients
Uncooked turkey sausage
¾ pound(s), spicy-variety, casings removed
Onion
1 medium, chopped
Green bell pepper
1 medium, chopped
Canned diced tomatoes
28 oz
Frozen green peas
10 oz, thawed
Tomato paste
2 Tbsp
Dried oregano
1 tsp
Dried basil
1 tsp
Dried thyme
½ tsp
Fennel seeds
½ tsp
Table salt
½ tsp, or to taste
Black pepper
½ tsp, freshly ground
Uncooked whole wheat pasta
12 oz, ziti, cooked according to package directions
Shredded part skim mozzarella cheese
6 oz
Instructions
1
Position the rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 350°F.
2
Crumble the sausage meat into a large saucepan and brown over medium heat, stirring often, about 4 minutes.
3
Drain off any fat, then add the onion and bell pepper. Cook, stirring often, until softened, about 3 minutes.
4
Stir in the tomatoes, peas, tomato paste, oregano, basil, thyme, fennel seeds, salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer, then reduce the heat and cook uncovered 5 minutes, stirring often.
5
Stir in the cooked pasta and half the cheese. Spread evenly into a 9- X 13-inch baking pan. Top evenly with the remaining cheese.
6
Bake until the cheese has melted and the casserole is bubbling, about 20 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes at room temperature before slicing into 8 pieces. Yields 1 piece per serving.
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