Ziti Lasagna

Name: Ziti Lasagna
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 1 h 30 min
Total time: 2 h
Yield: 4
Ingredients: 300 g of Pasta; 150 g of Ground Meat; 50 g of Pancetta; Mezza of Onion; 500 ml of Tomato Sauce; 750 ml of Bechamel Sauce; 60 g of Parmesan Cheese; 2 tablespoons of Extra Virgin Olive Oil; Salt

Ziti Lasagna is a first course perfect for Sunday, made with meat ragù and béchamel. Here is the original traditional recipe.

Difficulty Medium
Preparation 30 minutes
Cooking 1 hour and30 minutes
Servings for 4 people

Ziti are a pasta shape typical of Neapolitan cuisine, and today they are the stars of this Ziti Lasagna. For those who don’t know them, ziti are long and hollow, with a smooth surface, somewhere between bucatini and rigatoni. Although some recipes serve them as a regular pasta dish, the tradition of Campania prefers them baked in the oven.

Loosely inspired by classic lasagna, whose ingredients it borrows, this baked ziti recipe is perfect for family lunches on Sundays. Like all baked pasta recipes, you can make it ahead and put it in the oven shortly before sitting down to eat.

Other baked first courses perfect for Sunday include the Baked Pasta with Meatballs, the Baked Pasta with Gorgonzola and Spinach or the tasty Spaghetti Muffins, perfect for a buffet lunch.

Ingredients for 4 people

300 g of Pasta ziti
150 g of Ground Meat
50 g of Pancetta diced
1/2 of Onion
500 ml of Tomato Sauce
750 ml of Bechamel Sauce
60 g of Parmesan Cheese
2 tablespoons of Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Salt to taste

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Method

To make the Ziti Lasagna, start with the sauce. Finely chop the onion and sauté it in a skillet with the oil until soft and translucent.
Then add the pancetta and the meat and let everything take on flavor for a few minutes before seasoning with salt and adding the tomato sauce. Cook over medium heat for about an hour.
Meanwhile, boil the ziti for the time shown on the package, taking care not to break them. Once ready, drain them and toss them with a drizzle of oil so they don’t stick together. Let them cool slightly before continuing.
Spread a thin layer of béchamel over the bottom of an ovenproof baking dish, then start building the layers of your lasagna, alternating the ziti, the ragù and the béchamel. Continue until you have used up all the ingredients and finish with a sprinkle of Parmigiano.
Bake the Ziti Lasagna at 200 °C (400 °F) for 15 to 20 minutes, until the characteristic crust has formed on top, and serve piping hot. Finally, remember to download our App with exclusive content and fewer ads!

Variations and Alternatives

As mentioned, ziti lend themselves very well to all kinds of baked dishes. Try, for example, our recipe for Baked Ziti with Ragù.

Tips

You can also assemble the Ziti Lasagna a few hours ahead and bake it shortly before sitting down to eat. In this case, extend the baking time by 10 minutes to give the heat time to reach the center.

Storage

Ziti Lasagna keeps in the fridge for 2 to 3 days, well covered with plastic wrap. We recommend reheating it in the oven or in the microwave before eating.