SERVES 4
TOTAL TIME: 45 minutes
Penne can be substituted for the ziti. If your skillet is not ovensafe, transfer the casserole to a shallow 2-quart casserole dish before sprinkling with the cheese and baking.
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6 |
garlic cloves, minced |
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4 |
teaspoons olive oil |
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¼ |
teaspoon red pepper flakes |
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Salt and pepper |
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1 |
(28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes |
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3 |
cups water |
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12 |
ounces (3¾ cups) ziti |
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4 |
ounces (½ cup) whole-milk ricotta |
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½ |
cup heavy cream |
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1 |
ounce Parmesan cheese, grated (½ cup) |
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¼ |
cup chopped fresh basil |
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4 |
ounces mozzarella cheese, shredded (1 cup) |
1. Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 475 degrees. Combine garlic, 1 tablespoon oil, pepper flakes, and ½ teaspoon salt in 12-inch ovensafe nonstick skillet and cook over medium-high heat until fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir in crushed tomatoes, water, ziti, and ½ teaspoon salt. Cover and cook, stirring often and adjusting heat as needed to maintain vigorous simmer, until ziti is almost tender, 15 to 18 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, combine ricotta, remaining 1 teaspoon oil, ⅛ teaspoon salt, and ⅛ teaspoon pepper in bowl.
3. Stir cream, Parmesan, and 3 tablespoons basil into skillet. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Dollop ricotta mixture evenly over top, then sprinkle with mozzarella. Transfer skillet to oven and bake until cheese has melted and browned, about 10 minutes. Let cool slightly, sprinkle with remaining 1 tablespoon basil, and serve.
VARIATIONS
SKILLET BAKED ZITI WITH ITALIAN SAUSAGE
Arrange 4 ounces Italian sausage, casings removed and broken into ½-inch pieces, between double layers of coffee filters on plate and microwave until no longer raw, about 2 minutes. Stir cooked sausage into skillet with cream in step 3.
SKILLET BAKED ZITI WITH PEPPERONI AND PICKLED CHERRY PEPPERS
Omit ricotta and 1 teaspoon oil, and skip step 2. Arrange 2 ounces sliced pepperoni between double layers of coffee filters on plate and microwave until fat has rendered, about 30 seconds. Stir cooked pepperoni and ¼ cup chopped jarred cherry peppers into skillet with cream in step 3.