Baked Ziti From Cook's Illustrated

Total Time: 1 hr 20 mins Preparation Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 1 hr

Ingredients

• Servings: 8
• 1 lb 1% fat cottage cheese
• 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 3 ounces parmesan cheese, grated
• salt
• 1 lb ziti pasta
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 5 medium garlic cloves, minced
• 1 (28 ounce) can tomato sauce
• 1 (14 1/2 ounce) can diced tomatoes
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• black pepper
• 3/4 teaspoon cornstarch
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 8 ounces mozzarella cheese, cut into 1/4 inch pieces

Recipe

• 1 adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 350°f whisk cottage cheese, eggs and 1 cup parmesan together in medium bowl; set aside. bring 4 quarts of water to boil in large dutch oven over high heat. stir in 1 tablespoon salt and pasta; cook, stirring occasionally, until pasta begins to soften but is not yet cooked through, 5 to 7 minutes. drain pasta and leave in colander.
• 2 meanwhile, heat oil and garlic in 12 inch skillet over medium heat until garlic is fragrant but not brown. stir in tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, and oregano; simmer until thickened, about 10 minutes. off heat, stir in 1/2 cup basil and sugar, then season with salt and pepper.
• 3 stir cornstarch into heavy cream in small bowl, transfer mixture to dutch oven set over medium heat. bring to simmer and cook until thickened, 3 to 4 minutes. remove pot from heat and add cottage cheese mixture, 1 cup tomato sauce and 3/4 cup mozzarella, then stir to combine. add pasta and stir to coat.
• 4 transfer pasta mixture to 13 x 9 inch baking dish and spread remaining tomato sauce evenly over pasta. sprinkle with remaining 3/4 cup mozzarella and remaining 1/2 cup parmesan over top. cover baking dish tightly with foil and bake for 30 minutes.
• 5 remove foil and continue to cook until cheese is bubbling and beginning to brown, about 30 minutes longer. cool for 20 minutes. sprinkle with remaining 3 tablespoons basil and serve.