PREP TIME: 15 MINS | TOTAL TIME: 1 HOUR 10 MINS | YIELDS: 6
No, there is no Ziti in this recipe. But the roasted cauliflower does all the trick and its crazy good you won’t even notice!
INGREDIENTS
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
pinch red pepper flakes
1 pound ground beef
kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 (28-ounces) can crushed tomatoes
2 tablespoons thinly sliced basil, plus more for garnish
2 medium heads cauliflower, cut into florets, roasted
1 1/2 cups fresh ricotta
2 cups shredded mozzarella
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan
How to make Cauliflower Baked Ziti
Step 1: Prepare the oven. Preheat it to 375 degrees.
Step 2: Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Once the oil is hot, add the onion to the pan and cook for about 5 minutes, stirring often until soft. Now, stir in the garlic and red pepper flakes and continue to cook for a minute more. Then, add in the meat, season with salt and pepper, and cook for another 6 minutes until no longer pink. Drain the excess grease when done.
Step 3: To the pan, add the tomato paste and oregano and cook for about 2 minutes over medium heat until the mixture has darkened a bit. Then, add in the crushed tomatoes, bring the sauce to a simmer, decrease the heat, and continue to cook for 10 to 15 minutes more while occasionally stirring until the sauce has slightly reduced and the flavours have blended. Take away from the heat, then stir in the basil.
Step 4: Over the cauliflower in a large bowl, pour the sauce over and toss to combine. Then, place half of the cauliflower in a large baking dish in an even layer, top with half of the ricotta, and sprinkle with half of the mozzarella and Parmesan. On top, add the rest of the cauliflower in an even layer and finish off with the rest of the cheeses. Place in the preheated oven and bake for about 28 minutes until melty and golden.
Step 5: Remove from the oven when done and garnish with basil. Serve and enjoy!
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- pinch red pepper flakes
- 1 pound ground beef
- kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 (28-ounces) can crushed tomatoes
- 2 tablespoons thinly sliced basil, plus more for garnish
- 2 medium heads cauliflower, cut into florets, roasted
- 1 1/2 cups fresh ricotta
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan
Instructions
Step 1: Prepare the oven. Preheat it to 375 degrees.
Step 2: Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Once the oil is hot, add the onion to the pan and cook for about 5 minutes, stirring often until soft. Now, stir in the garlic and red pepper flakes and continue to cook for a minute more. Then, add in the meat, season with salt and pepper, and cook for another 6 minutes until no longer pink. Drain the excess grease when done.
Step 3: To the pan, add the tomato paste and oregano and cook for about 2 minutes over medium heat until the mixture has darkened a bit. Then, add in the crushed tomatoes, bring the sauce to a simmer, decrease the heat, and continue to cook for 10 to 15 minutes more while occasionally stirring until the sauce has slightly reduced and the flavours have blended. Take away from the heat, then stir in the basil.
Step 4: Over the cauliflower in a large bowl, pour the sauce over and toss to combine. Then, place half of the cauliflower in a large baking dish in an even layer, top with half of the ricotta, and sprinkle with half of the mozzarella and Parmesan. On top, add the rest of the cauliflower in an even layer and finish off with the rest of the cheeses. Place in the preheated oven and bake for about 28 minutes until melty and golden.
Step 5: Remove from the oven when done and garnish with basil. Serve and enjoy!
