Baked Rigaboney

Total Time: 1 hr 20 mins Preparation Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 1 hr

Ingredients

• Servings: 8
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 large garlic cloves, finely chopped
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
• 2 (28 ounce) cans crushed tomatoes
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon oregano
• 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
• course salt & freshly ground black pepper
• 1 lb rigatoni pasta (i used penne) or 1 lb penne (i used penne)
• 2 lbs sweet italian sausage, casings removed
• 1 1/2 lbs whole milk ricotta cheese
• 1 lb mozzarella cheese, shredded

Recipe

• 1 preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• 2 in large saucepan, heat oil over medium heat.
• 3 add garlic and onion, and cook until onion is translucent, about 4 minutes.
• 4 add tomato paste, and cook, stirring, 2 minutes.
• 5 stir in tomatoes, sugar, oregano, and pepper flakes, if using. salt and pepper.
• 6 cook until slightly reduced, stirring occasionally, about 15 minutes.
• 7 meanwhile bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. add pasta and cook, stirring occasionally about 9 to 10 minutes or according to package directions. drain in a colander and rinse under cool water until cool, set aside.
• 8 in medium nonstick skillet, brown sausage and cook, stirring frequently with a wooden spoon to break up any large pieces, until browned and cooked through, about 8 minutes. drain grease and set aside.
• 9 in a medium bowl, combine ricotta with half of the mozzarella cheese. stir to combine. season with a pinch of pepper and salt.
• 10 to assemble:
• 11 spread 1 cup of sauce in the bottom of a 9 x 13 baking dish.
• 12 add half of the pasta in an even layer.
• 13 spread with 1/2 cup of the sauce.
• 14 spread with ricotta mixture. i found it easier to drop by tablespoons, evenly distributed, and let set for a minute and then it was easier to spread.
• 15 add sausage.
• 16 spread 1 cup more sauce over top.
• 17 top with remaining rigatoni and 1 1/2 cups sauce. any remaining sauce may be served on the side (i did not have any remaining sauce).
• 18 sprinkle with remaining mozzarella over top.
• 19 place baking dish on a baking sheet and transfer to oven. bake until bubbly 35 to 40 minutes.