Italy In A Pan Recipe

3      Reviews by:    Hilda Hyche   Italy In A Pan Recipe uses ziti, ground beef, onion, bread crumbs, garlic, egg, oil, red wine, marinara, spinach, parsley, basil, and mozzarella cheese in making this tasty meatball casserole recipe. Food Category:    Beef, Veal, and Lamb Cuisine Origin:    Italian    Servings:6 Nutrition facts:322 calories11.8 grams fat Print Preview Rate This Recipe Prep Time:   20 Minutes Cook Time:   40 Minutes Total Time:   1 Hour

INGREDIENTS

• 2 cups ziti
• kosher salt, to taste
• 1 pound ground round
• 1/2 small onion, chopped
• 1/4 cup panko breadcrumbs
• 2 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1 large egg
• freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 1 tablespoon canola oil
• 1/4 cup dry red wine
• 1 (24-ounce) jar marinara
• 4 cups flat-leaf spinach, stems discarded, leaves torn
• 3 tablespoons fresh flat-leaf parsley, plus more for garnish, chopped
• 3 tablespoons fresh basil, plus more for garnish, chopped
• 8 ounces fresh small mozzarella balls/bocconcini

DIRECTIONS

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a 2-quart baking dish. Cook the ziti in a large pot of boiling, salted water until al dente according to the package directions.
• Gently combine the ground round, the onion, the breadcrumbs, the garlic, the egg, the salt, and the pepper in a bowl. Shape the meat mixture into 16 meatballs. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the meatballs to the hot oil and cook, turning occasionally, until they are brown on all sides, about 6-8 minutes.
• Stir the wine into the meatball mixture, gently scraping up the brown bits from the bottom of the skillet. Stir the marinara, the spinach, the parsley, and the basil into the meatball mixture and bring to a simmer. Transfer the skillet from the heat and fold in the pasta.
• Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish. Top the mixture with the mozzarella. Bake until the cheese has melted and the edges are bubbly, about 25-30 minutes. Let the casserole stand for 10 minutes. Garnish with the parsley and the basil, if desired, and serve.

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