Baked Cheese Ziti

Photo: laura wong

Ingredients

8 ounces whole-grain ziti

1 head cauliflower, cut into ½- inch pieces

1 tablespoon olive oil

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

2 tablespoons fresh basil, shredded (or 2 teaspoons dried)

1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes, preferably fire-roasted

1/4 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella

Preparation

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

Boil a pot of water. Once the water boils pour the ziti to the pot. Cook the ziti according to the package directions. After it is done cooking, drain the ziti in a stringer. Then quickly return ziti to the saucepan.

In a rimmed baking sheet, add the cauliflower, oil, salt and pepper together. Then place the baking sheet into the oven. Roast and stir the cauliflower until it is golden brown and tender for 20 minutes. Add basil and tomatoes into cauliflower and bake 10 minutes longer.

Once the cauliflower mixture is done, toss them to the ziti and mix it well. Divide the mixture among four 4-ounce ramekins. Add a tablespoon of mozzarella on top each of the four 4-ounce ramekins. Bake until cheese browns and bubbles, about 5 minutes.