The Most Delicious Baked Pasta Dish: Baked Ziti with Ricotta and Ham

Since we started writing this blog last year, we've tried out a lot of new recipes. As a result, we don't often have a chance to go back to a favorite. In fact, we tend to make something new pretty much every night. The nights we don't cook something new we order empanadas, or make a simple pasta. This dish is one that is so good, and so easy, we've gone back to it a few times, because it's too delicious not to!

Everybody loves a good baked pasta dish. It's super easy and makes it seem like you've cooked something more complicated than you did. This recipe takes the traditional baked ziti and steps it up about three notches, resulting in one of the most delicious baked pasta dishes you'll ever have. So get ready to add this to your menu for the week!

Making the Dish

What you'll need
2 tbsp, olive oil
1 carrot, diced
1 celery rib, diced
1/2 onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, diced
8 oz ham, chopped into small cubes
1/2 cup red wine
1 1/4 cup tomato sauce
1/2 lb, ziti
8 oz, ricotta
1 cup grated pecorino romano
salt and pepper

Preheat the oven to 375. Get started to sautéing the carrot, celery, and onion in a large saucepan over medium heat with the olive oil, with a sprinkle of salt to sweat the veggies. When the veggies have gotten very soft and the onion has gotten slightly golden, add in the garlic and cook for a minute more until the garlic is fragrant.

Then add in the ham and cook until the fat starts to render (about two minutes). You'll want the ham to caramelize slightly, but not get too hard. Add in the wine and bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and let the wine reduce by half.

Add in the tomato sauce, bring everything to a boil again, and then let cook for 15 minutes, uncovered, over low heat. Season with salt and pepper to taste - it should be bold and rich. While the sauce is simmering, cook your ziti to two minutes shy of the package directions. The ziti will finish cooking in the oven, so you want it very firm.

Drain and rinse the ziti, reserving a ladleful of the pasta water, and then add it to the saucepan with the tomato ham mixture. Throw in your ricotta, and gently ladle the pasta water over the ricotta to start it melting. Stir it into the pasta and the sauce and stir everything together until combined. The sauce will now be pink and creamy.

Pour out the ziti, ricotta, and ham into a baking dish, and use a spoon to flatten it down across the top. Sprinkle the pecorino romano over the top until it is completely covered. Then put the ziti dish into the oven and bake for 15 - 20 minutes, until a nice crispy brown top has formed.

Remove the baking dish from the oven and let rest for 5 - 10 minutes, until the bubbling has stopped and the cheese as set slightly. Use a spatula to cut out squares of the ziti and serve, garnished with extra pecorino if desired.

The Result
Ahhhhhh so good. As we mentioned, this is one of those dishes that we have to come back to because it is just so good.

It's creamy, flavorful, bright, and hearty. It's fairly devoid of vegetables, but who cares. Plus, it has that crispy top that gives it a homey, comforting feel.

What's your favorite baked pasta dish? Let us know about it in the comments, and if available, provide a link to the recipe so we can give it a try!

One year ago: Chicken Parmesan