With highly pleasant results, this baked ziti recipe incorporates Italian sausage in place of the traditional ricotta cheese (or replacements).
Prep Time: | 20 mins |
Cook Time: | 25 mins |
Total Time: | 45 mins |
Servings: | 8 |
Yield: | 8 servings |
Ingredients
- 1 (8 ounce) container small mozzarella balls
- 4 medium Roma tomatoes
- 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 large egg
- 1 tablespoon water
- ½ cup Panko, bread crumbs
- 2 medium zucchini, cut into 1/2-inch slices
- 1 (6 ounce) package sliced pepperoni
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a cookie sheet with foil. Slice mozzarella balls in half; set aside.
- Bring a small pot of water to a boil. Rinse tomatoes and put in the boiling water for blanching. Remove after 1 minute, let cool slightly, and use your hands to peel the skin; it should slip off easily.
- Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in another small pot. Add garlic and saute until fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes. Add peeled tomatoes, basil, and oregano. Cook tomatoes, breaking up with a spoon, to create a sauce. Let cook while you prepare zucchini.
- Whisk egg and water together in a small bowl until mixture is consistent. Put panko in a shallow bowl.
- Dip zucchini pieces into the egg-water mixture, then coat both sides with panko.
- Heat remaining olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add panko-coated zucchini slices and saute until golden brown, flipping occasionally, about 5 minutes. Transfer to the prepared cookie sheet.
- Top each zucchini slice with about 1 teaspoon sauce and 1 pepperoni slice. Place 1 piece mozzarella on top of each zucchini.
- Bake in the preheated oven until mozzarella is slightly melted, about 10 minutes. Serve immediately.
Nutrition Facts
Calories | 272 kcal |
Carbohydrate | 9 g |
Cholesterol | 68 mg |
Dietary Fiber | 1 g |
Protein | 12 g |
Saturated Fat | 8 g |
Sodium | 441 mg |
Sugars | 2 g |
Fat | 22 g |
Unsaturated Fat | 0 g |
Reviews
Great!