Baked Four Cheese Ziti

Ingredients

• 1 lb ziti pasta
• 1 cup ricotta cheese
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1 cup shredded fontina cheese
• 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 can (28 oz) crushed tomatoes
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1/2 cup additional mozzarella cheese for topping
• Fresh basil leaves for garnish

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook the ziti pasta according to the package instructions until al dente, about 8-10 minutes. Drain and set aside.
3. In a large saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and sauté until translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for an additional 1-2 minutes until fragrant. Pour in the crushed tomatoes, dried oregano, and dried basil. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Let the sauce simmer for about 15 minutes.
4. In a large mixing bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, 1 cup of mozzarella cheese, fontina cheese, and 1/2 cup of Parmesan cheese. Stir until well blended.
5. In another large bowl, mix the cooked ziti pasta with the marinara sauce until well-coated.
6. In a greased 9x13 inch baking dish, spread half of the ziti and sauce mixture. Dollop half of the cheese mixture over the pasta. Repeat with the remaining ziti and cheese mixture.
7. Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese evenly across the top layer.
8. Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and golden brown.
9. Let it sit for about 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh basil leaves if desired.

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