Name: Gluten-Free Baked Ziti
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 50 min
Yield: 5
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 12 oz gluten free pasta (I use Jovial); 15 oz ricotta cheese; 24 oz meat sauce; 6 cup water

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This gluten-free baked ziti is mouth watering with just a few ingredients. It is sure to be a hit with the whole family.

Ziti dates back to my childhood. I can smell it now. My grandmother made the BEST ZITI EVER!!! I remember standing at her kitchen counter making it with her. She taught me how to prep the noodles then layer the ingredients before popping into the oven. This was one of her favorite dishes growing up. Now, I have pasted on the tradition to my son. He waits at the counter with me to put everything together.

WHAT IS ZITI?

Ziti is a tubed shaped pasta. It’s origins is from Italy but history dates it back to the Renaissance Era. Ziti comes from the word “zita” meaning bride in Italian. It is regularly served at weddings and banquets today. In the United States, the dish is commonly enjoyed among families. Penne or rigatoni noodles are often used since they are more common. In addition to noodles, a tomato based meat sauce and ricotta cheese are layered to make up the dish. Some people also add in meat and vegetables.

WHAT IS THE BEST TYPE OF GLUTEN-FREE BASED NOODLES?

The brand I highly recommend is Jovial-gluten free penne rigate pasta. It only has two ingredients- water and organic brown rice flour. In my experience, this brand holds together very well, high quality ingredients and I don’t notice a difference in taste to gluten pasta. In my opinion, it is the best option for gluten-free pasta for ziti or any other type of pasta based dish that you need to make gluten-free.

HOW DO YOU MAKE GLUTEN-FREE ZITI?

I like to start by getting my noodles tender. Since we are going to bake it in the oven, we don’t want to over cook the noodles but we want them soft. I boil the noodles on the stove top in a pan of water until I can cut into them but they are still firm. You want the noodles to still be a bit rubbery. If they are too cooked, then you will have soggy noodles. Drain any excess water still in pan. In a 9 x 13 baking dish, pour meat sauce to coat bottom. Place a layer of noodles on top of sauce. Next, add the cheese by taking spoonfuls and dropping them into the corners of the dish. You will have four. The cheese will spread during the baking. Top with sauce and begin next layer until at the top of dish. Place aluminum foil over top then bake for 40 minutes at 350 degrees.

WHAT CAN YOU SERVE WITH GLUTEN-FREE ZITI?

A side salad or steamed vegetables are always a great addition to the meal. In addition, I like to add gluten-free garlic bread with mine. A big bowl of baked ziti is often great by itself as a comfort food on a cold winter day.