Zucchini Baked Ziti

Total Time: 1 hr 15 mins Preparation Time: 45 mins Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients

• 3 large zucchini
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 1 lb ziti pasta or 1 lb penne
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, chopped
• 2 (28 ounce) cans tomatoes (if whole, slice before cooking)
• 1/4 cup basil leaves, in strips
• 1/4 cup chopped parsley
• pepper
• salt
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1 1/2 cups grated parmesan cheese

Recipe

• 1 boil water and cook the ziti according to package directions.
• 2 while it is cooking, follow next steps.
• 3 when it is done, drain and set aside in large bowl (or pot).
• 4 slice the zucchini.
• 5 in a skillet, heat 1/4 cup olive oil and fry the zucchini until browned on both sides.
• 6 take them out of the pan and drain on paper towels.
• 7 in a saucepan, heat the remaining 1/4 cup oil.
• 8 add the onion and cook until translucent.
• 9 add the garlic and cook for 2 minutes.
• 10 add the tomatoes, basil, parsley, salt and pepper.
• 11 simmer uncovered for 20 minutes.
• 12 preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• 13 pour into large bowl with the drained ziti.
• 14 rub two shallow baking pans with olive oil.
• 15 in the first pan, put 1/4 of the ziti, then 1/4 of the zucchini.
• 16 dot with butter, add 1/4 of the mozzarella and then 1/4 of the parmesan.
• 17 repeat the layers in that pan.
• 18 repeat above steps for second pan.
• 19 bake pans in a 350-degree oven for 30 minutes until the top is brown and crusty.
• 20 or bake one, freeze one!
• 21 or freeze both: cover the other pan tightly with aluminum foil and freeze.
• 22 defrost before baking.