Baked Ziti with Ground Beef

Ingredients

• 200g Ground beef, 90% lean, raw
• 168g Dry spaghetti pasta
• 200g Pasta sauce, spaghetti/marinara
• 100g Mozzarella cheese, part-skim
• 80g Whole milk ricotta cheese
• 10g Garlic, raw
• 80g Red onion, raw

Method

1. 1Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. 2Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the dry spaghetti (168g) and cook according to package directions until just al dente (about 8-9 minutes). Drain and set aside.
3. 3In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the ground beef (200g) without oil, breaking it up with a spoon as it cooks, until browned (about 5-7 minutes). Drain excess fat if needed.
4. 4Add the diced red onion (80g) and minced garlic (10g) to the beef, stirring constantly for 2 minutes until fragrant.
5. 5Pour in the marinara sauce (200g) and stir well to combine. Simmer for 5 minutes to allow flavors to meld. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
6. 6In a small bowl, combine the ricotta cheese (80g) with 1/4 cup of the beef-tomato mixture, stirring until smooth.
7. 7In a 9-inch baking dish (lightly sprayed with cooking spray), add one-third of the cooked pasta to the bottom. Spread half of the ricotta mixture over the pasta, then add one-third of the beef sauce.
8. 8Layer another third of the pasta, then the remaining ricotta mixture, followed by another third of the beef sauce.
9. 9Top with the final third of pasta and remaining beef sauce. Sprinkle the mozzarella cheese (100g) evenly over the top.
10. 10Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake for 15 minutes. Remove foil and bake for an additional 15-20 minutes until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and the edges are golden brown.
11. 11Remove from the oven and let rest for 5 minutes before serving. This allows the baked ziti to set and become easier to portion.