Baked Ziti à la Sbarro | Red And White Sauce | Vegetarian Friendly

Red or white? Why not both?

Inspired by the Italian-American chain, this pasta recipe lets you have the best of both worlds! The rich and creamy Béchamel (with Parmesan) together with the tangy, savory Marinara sauce will have your friends and family asking for seconds! Mind you, it's vegetarian-friendly too! ;) Enjoy! 😊❤️

Ingredients:

500g Penne

Red Sauce:
3 tablespoons Olive Oil
3 cloves of Garlic, minced
1 medium Onion, diced
1½ teaspoons Dried Oregano
1½ teaspoons Italian Seasoning
3 400g cans of Diced Tomatoes
500g Spaghetti Sauce
1½ teaspoons Ground Pepper
1 teaspoon Salt
3 tablespoons Tomato Paste
2 tablespoons chopped fresh Basil

Cheese Mix:
150g Cream Cheese (softened)
200g Grated Mozzarella
½ cup Parmesan

White Sauce (Bechamel with Parmesan):
¼ cup Butter
¼ cup All Purpose Flour
2½ cups Fresh Milk
¾ cup Parmesan
Salt and Pepper to taste

Procedure:
Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the Penne and cook until al dente.
Heat 3 tablespoons of olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Sauté the minced garlic and diced onions and cook until the onions start to soften. Add the dried spices and sauté for 2 minutes.
Add the diced tomatoes and the spaghetti sauce. Add the tomato paste.
Season with salt and pepper and add 2 tablespoons of sugar.
Cook for about 20 minutes or until the sauce thickens.
While the red sauce is simmering, prepare the Cheese Mixture. Combine the softened Cream Cheese, mozzarella and parmesan in a bowl. Set aside.
Put the cooked Penne in a large bowl and add half of the red sauce. Mix gently until all the noodles are coated with sauce. Add ½ of the Cheese mixture and mix just until the cheeses are well distributed. Transfer to a baking dish. Evenly spread the remaining cheese mixture on top. Bake in a preheated 375°F oven for about 20 minutes.
While the pasta is in the oven, cook the bechamel sauce. In a heavy-bottom sauce pan, melt the butter. Add the flour, stirring constantly with a wire whisk, until the paste cooks. Do not let it brown! Slowly add the milk and continue stirring until the sauce thickens. Add salt and pepper to taste. During the last 2 minutes of cooking, add the grated parmesan and stir until the cheese melts.
Serve the baked ziti while hot and have your guests ladle their preferred sauces on top. Add more parmesan cheese and sprinkle chopped parsley on top. Enjoy! ;)

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