Enhanced Onion and Cheese Baked Ziti

Ingredients

• Salt (to taste)
• Black pepper (to taste)
• Fresh basil (1/4 cup, chopped (for garnish))
• Parmesan cheese (1 cup, grated)
• Mozzarella cheese (2 cups, shredded)
• Ricotta cheese (2 cups)
• Tomato sauce (4 cups)
• Olive oil (2 tablespoons)
• Garlic (4 cloves, minced)
• Onion (1 large, diced)
• Ziti pasta (1 pound)

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. Cook the ziti pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
3. In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the diced onion and minced garlic, cooking until the onion is translucent and fragrant, about 5 minutes.
4. Pour in the tomato sauce, stirring to combine. Season with salt and pepper to taste, and let it simmer for 10 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.
5. In a separate bowl, mix together the ricotta cheese, 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese, and 1/2 cup of grated Parmesan cheese until well combined.
6. In a large baking dish, spread a thin layer of the tomato sauce mixture on the bottom. Add a layer of cooked ziti pasta over the sauce.
7. Spread half of the ricotta cheese mixture over the pasta, followed by another layer of the tomato sauce. Repeat the layers with the remaining ziti, ricotta mixture, and sauce.
8. Top with the remaining shredded mozzarella cheese and grated Parmesan cheese.
9. Cover the baking dish with foil and bake for 25 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
10. Garnish with chopped fresh basil before serving.