A batch-friendly baked pasta recreation for home cooks; not a documented Mama Maria's menu item.
Baked ziti , a dish with beef, 3 cheeses, and Ziti Pasta Credit: Lili from NY, United States. License: CC BY 2.0. Source and license record.
Disclaimer & Provenance
The Recipe: This is an independent, editorial home-cooking recreation designed to emulate the classic Italian-American style of the dishes mentioned on the show. It is not the original restaurant's recipe.
The Image: The accompanying photograph is a verified, royalty-free image sourced from Wikimedia Commons. It is used strictly for illustrative purposes to represent the dish type and is not a photograph of the actual food served at Mama Maria's nor the direct result of this recipe.
25 minPrep
35 minCook
6Servings
Ingredients
1 lb ziti
1 lb ground beef
4 cups marinara sauce
15 oz ricotta
1 egg
1 cup grated mozzarella
1/2 cup grated Parmesan
2 tbsp chopped basil
1/2 tsp black pepper
Method
Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Cook ziti in salted water until very al dente (about 2 minutes less than package directions). Meanwhile, brown the ground beef in a skillet until fully cooked, then drain excess fat.
Mix ricotta, egg, half the Parmesan, basil, and pepper.
In a large bowl, mix the cooked pasta, browned beef, ricotta mixture, and 3 cups of marinara sauce.
Layer pasta, ricotta mixture, and mozzarella in a baking dish.
Top with remaining sauce and cheese.
Bake uncovered until hot and browned, about 25 minutes; rest 10 minutes before serving.
Editorial note: This contemporary recipe is not represented as a historical Mama Maria's recipe or as a complete reproduction of a televised dish.
