Timballo di Mezzi Ziti – Baked Macaroni Casserole Pugliesi Style
This baked ziti casserole (timballo) is typical of Puglia.There are many versions of the dish from this region. It is standard fare for Christmas or other special occasions. Mezzi ziti are a long, hollow type of dried pasta that needs to be broken in thirds before cooking. If they are unavailable use bucatini, a thick, hollow spaghetti. This recipe is usually made in some type of terra-cotta dish but any heavy duty casserole dish at least 12 x 2 1/2-inches deep, or a deep lasagne dish will work.
Ingredients
- For the Pork Sausage Ragu Sauce:
- 1 tbsp Extra virgin olive oil
- 1 medium onion, minced
- 1/2 lb ground pork sausage
- 6 cups canned plum tomatoes
- 1/2 cup red wine
- 6 or 7 fresh basil leaves
- salt to taste
- For the Meatballs:
- 1/4 lb ground pork
- 2 oz grated Pecorino cheese
- 1/4 cup soft bread crumbs
- 2 tbsp minced flat leaf parsley
- 1 tsp minced garlic
- 2 eggs
- olive oil for frying
- 1lb fresh mozzarella cheese, cut into bits
- 1 lbs mezzi ziti or bucatini, broken into thirds
Directions
- To make the ragu: Heat the olive oil in a 2 quart saucepan; stir in the onion and cook until it is limp. Stir in the sausage and cook until it is browned. Combine the tomatoes with the wine and stir into sausage. Add salt and pepper to taste. Cook over simmering heat uncovered for 30 minutes. Stir in the basil. Set aside.
- Mix all the ingredients for the meatballs together in a bowl except the olive oil, mozzarella cheese, and mezzi ziti.
- Make tiny meatballs the size of marbles. Pour a thin layer of olive oil in a sauté pan and fry the meatballs in batches. Or bake the meatballs on a lightly oiled baking sheet at 350F for 12 minutes.
- Transfer the meatballs to a large bowl and mix them with 1 cup of the ragu sauce. Set aside.
- Cook the mezzi ziti in boiling salted water until they are still a bit firm because they will finish cooking in the oven. Drain them and transfer them to a bowl. Toss them with 1 cup of the sauce and set aside.
- Preheat the oven to 375F
- Spread a thIn layer of the ragu sauce in a heavy duty ovenware dish. Spread 1/3 of the mezzi ziti over the sauce. Make a second layer of the meat balls mixed with half of the cheese.
- Spread 1 cup of the sauce over the cheese. Make a second layer like the first. Spread the remaining mezzi ziti over the second layer and top with the rest of the sauce.
- Bake covered with aluminum foil for 30 minutes, then uncover and bake 10 to 15 minutes longer. The top should be very crispy.
Comments
No comments on this recipe.