Veggie Baked Penne

🥘 Ingredients

• chili flakes
  1 tsp
• mozzarella cheese
  1 c
• penne pasta
  12 oz
• penne pasta, sauce, and 1
  {tablespoon
• ricotta cheese
  8 unit
• roma tomato
  2 unit
• yellow onion
  1.5 unit
• zucchini
  2 unit

1. 

   1

   Adjust rack to top position and preheat oven to 450 degrees. Bring a medium pot of salted water to a boil with all produce. Wash and dry all produce. Trim zucchini , then grate on the largest holes of a box grater. Halve, peel, and dice half the yellow onion (save remaining for another use; dice whole onion for 4 servings). Finely dice roma tomato .

   zucchini: 2 unit, yellow onion: 1.5 unit, roma tomato: 2 unit
2. 

   2

   Once water is boiling, add penne pasta to pot. Cook until almost al dente for ⏱️ 8 minutes . Drain and reserve empty pot for use in step 5.

   penne pasta: 12 oz
3. 

   3

   Follow the instructions for the sauce: In a large pan, heat a drizzle of olive oil over medium-high heat. Add onion, tomato, and a pinch of salt. Cook until onion is softened, ⏱️ 5 minutes (4-6). Stir in marinara cup, grated zucchini, half the Italian Seasoning, ¼ cup water (½ cup for 4), 1 tsp sugar (2 tsp for 4), and a large pinch of salt. Bring to a simmer and cook ⏱️ 3 minutes until interested.
4. 

   4

   While the sauce simmers, season ricotta cheese with remaining half of Italian Seasoning and olive oil. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

   ricotta cheese: 8 unit
5. 

   5

   Assembly: In the reserved pot, combine penne pasta, sauce, and 1 } of butter (or 2 for 4). Mix thoroughly. In a greased baking dish (8x8-inch for 2 servings), spread half the pasta mixture. Dot with seasoned ricotta, then top with the rest of the pasta. Sprinkle mozzarella cheese on top.

   penne pasta, sauce, and 1: {tablespoon, mozzarella cheese: 1 c
6. 

   6

   Bake on the top rack covered with aluminum foil (spray foil with nonstick first if desired) for {{10%minutes}}. Remove, then preheat broiler and broil until cheese is golden and crispy for ⏱️ 4 minutes . Let cool slightly, then garnish with chili flakes if you like. Serve quickly.

   chili flakes: 1 tsp