Tender ziti baked with ricotta, spinach, olives, and melted cheese in a rich tomato sauce.
# What You'll Need:
→ Pasta
01 - 1 pound ziti or penne pasta
→ Vegetables
02 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
03 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
05 - 6 ounces fresh baby spinach
→ Cheese & Dairy
06 - 1 1/2 cups ricotta cheese
07 - 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
08 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
09 - 1 large egg
→ Sauce
10 - 24 ounces marinara sauce
11 - 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
12 - 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
13 - 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, optional
14 - Salt and black pepper to taste
→ Olives
15 - 1/2 cup Kalamata or black olives, pitted and sliced
# How To Make It:
01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
02 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook ziti until just al dente following package instructions. Drain and set aside.
03 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook onion until translucent, about 4 minutes. Add garlic and cook for 1 additional minute. Stir in spinach and cook until wilted, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat.
04 - In a large bowl, combine ricotta, egg, half of the mozzarella, half of the Parmesan, oregano, basil, red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper. Fold in the sautéed spinach mixture and sliced olives.
05 - Stir marinara sauce and cooked pasta into the bowl until ingredients are evenly incorporated.
06 - Transfer mixture to the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle remaining mozzarella and Parmesan on top. Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes.
07 - Remove foil and continue baking an additional 10 to 15 minutes until cheese is bubbly and golden brown.
08 - Allow to rest for 5 minutes before serving.
