BAKED ZITI WITH SPINACH AND TOMATOES

BAKED ZITI WITH SPINACH AND TOMATOES
from Heatherina!

Offer this simple, hearty dish with a green salad, crusty garlic bread and a light red wine, like Beaujolais.

3/4 pound hot Italian sausages, casings removed
1 medium onion, chopped
3 large garlic cloves, chopped
1 28-ounce can diced peeled tomatoes
1/4 cup purchased pesto sauce

10 ounces ziti or penne pasta (about 3 cups), freshly cooked
8 cups ready-to-use spinach leaves (about 2/3 of 10-ounce package)
6 ounces mozzarella cheese, cubed
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese (about 3 ounces)

Heat heavy large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add sausage, onion and garlic and sauté until sausage is cooked through, breaking up meat with back of spoon, about 10 minutes. Add tomatoes with juices to pan. Simmer until sauce thickens slightly, stirring occasionally, about 10 minutes. Stir in pesto. Season sauce with salt and pepper. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate. Bring to simmer before continuing.)

Preheat oven to 375° F. Lightly oil 13 x 9-inch glass baking dish. Combine pasta, spinach, mozzarella and 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese in large bowl. Stir in hot tomato sauce. Transfer mixture to prepared baking dish. Sprinkle remaining 2/3 cup Parmesan cheese over. Bake until sauce bubbles and cheeses melt, about 30 minutes.

Bon Appétit
November 1994
Carmela M. Meely: Walnut Creek, California

JULIE"S NOTES:
this is in bi-weekly if not weekly rotation around here and I just wanted to share a way to speed it up. Last night I was in a hurry so instead of doing it the way it's posted, I did this: start water boiling. brown sausage w/ garlic and onion, add tomato sauce, basil, pesto and spices and simmer. while that's going, boil the pasta - then rinse but don't get it too cool. tear up spinach and put it in the big pot w/ rinsed pasta, pour in the tomatoes and sausage and add shredded mozz cheese to the pot - stir all ingredients together over low heat till it blends and cheese melts. Serve immediately. Essentially - I just took out the baking part of it - same taste but different texture - The tomatoes and melted cheese almost make a creamy sauce. I love this dish!