Baked Ziti with Lamb Sauce

Baked ziti with lamb sauce is a hearty and flavorful dish, perfect for a Sunday lunch or holiday celebrations. Here is the recipe to prepare this rich and tasty dish.

Ingredients

• 500 g ziti
• 800 g boneless lamb shoulder, cut into cubes
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, chopped
• 1 carrot, chopped
• 1 celery stalk, chopped
• 800 ml tomato passata
• 200 ml full-bodied red wine
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 100 g grated pecorino
• 200 g mozzarella, cut into cubes
• Extra-virgin olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste
• A few fresh basil leaves
• Water, as needed to cook the pasta

Preparation

1. Prepare the lamb sauce by browning the meat in a pot with extra-virgin olive oil until golden on all sides. Remove the meat and set aside.

2. In the same pot, add the chopped onion, garlic, carrot, and celery. Sauté over medium heat until tender.

3. Deglaze with the red wine and let the alcohol evaporate.

4. Add the tomato passata and tomato paste. Stir well and simmer gently for about 1 hour, adding a little water occasionally if the sauce becomes too thick.

5. Meanwhile, bring a pot of salted water to a boil and cook the ziti until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking.

6. Preheat the oven to 180 °C.

7. In a baking dish, begin layering with some sauce on the bottom, followed by a layer of ziti, some mozzarella cubes, a little pecorino, and some lamb sauce. Continue until all ingredients are used, finishing with a layer of sauce and a generous sprinkle of pecorino.

8. Cover with aluminum foil and bake for about 20-30 minutes, then remove the foil and bake for another 10-15 minutes or until golden as desired.

Trivia

Baked ziti is a classic of Campanian cuisine and is traditionally prepared for feasts or special occasions. The lamb sauce makes this dish particularly rich and substantial. The use of red wine in the sauce helps intensify the flavor of the meat and balance the acidity of the tomato.