Baked Ziti - American Pasta Bake
recipe

A delicious and cheesy pasta dish perfect for festive meals. This recipe combines tomato sauce and various cheeses, creating a rich and flavorful meal. Preparation time is about 1 hour, and it serves 6-8 people.

Ingredients:

- 500 g pasta (e.g., penne or shell pasta)
- 1 kg cooked tomatoes or 800 g canned crushed tomatoes
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- A pinch of sugar
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1-2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 300 ml heavy cream
- 300 g grated cheese (e.g., emmental, sheep's feta, manchego)
- 2 eggs
- 200 g sautéed eggplant cubes
- 200 g cherry tomatoes, halved
- Seasonings: dried herbs, paprika, a little salt (cheeses are salty)

Instructions:

1. Cook the pasta in salted water until al dente. Drain and add a little olive oil.
2. Prepare the tomato sauce: sauté the garlic in olive oil, then add tomatoes, sugar, salt, pepper, and balsamic vinegar. Let it simmer for a few minutes.
3. Sauté the eggplant cubes in a pan until soft.
4. In a large bowl, combine the cooked pasta, tomato sauce, and sautéed eggplant.
5. In another bowl, whisk together the heavy cream and eggs. Pour the mixture over the pasta and mix well.
6. Add the grated cheese and seasonings. Stir until smooth.
7. Grease a baking dish and pour the pasta mixture into it. Spread the top evenly and sprinkle more cheese and dried herbs on top.
8. Cover the dish with foil and bake at 175 °C (350 °F) for about 20 minutes. Remove the foil and continue baking until the top is golden brown.
9. Allow to cool slightly before serving. Serve warm or let it cool and cut into portions.

Nutritional Information (per serving):

- Energy: 450 kcal
- Protein: 20 g
- Carbohydrates: 50 g
- Fat: 20 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Salt: 1 g

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