What to Serve with Ziti Casserole: Ideal Accompaniments
Here are several of the best side dishes to pair with ziti casserole. Find the right side dish to enhance your dining experience!
1.Garlic Bread: The Perfect Companion for Ziti Casserole
Ziti casserole has a rich and mellow flavor. Garlic bread, on the other hand, has a crispy outer layer and a soft inner texture.
The intense garlic flavor blends seamlessly with the wheat aroma. Each bite can balance the richness of the casserole, allowing your taste buds to find the perfect equilibrium between intensity and freshness.
2.Cheesy Garlic Bread: A Marvelous Side Dish in Ten Minutes
When you want to add more flavor to your ziti casserole, this cheesy garlic bread is sure to impress! It combines the creaminess of cheese with the richness of garlic and can be easily prepared in just ten minutes.
Whether it's a weekday dinner or a weekend get-together, it showcases the allure of carbohydrates and cheese to the fullest.
3.Garlic and Herb Focaccia: Simple yet Exquisite Delight
The rich sauce of ziti casserole calls for a delicious side dish, and this garlic and herb focaccia is the perfect choice. The richness of butter, the creaminess of cheese, and the freshness of herbs make each bite unforgettable.
4.Air-Fried Asparagus: A Healthy and Low-Calorie Ideal Partner
Although ziti casserole is delicious, pairing it with a healthy vegetable makes the entire meal even more perfect. Air-fried asparagus doesn't require thawing or washing and can be easily made in twenty minutes.
Air-fried asparagus is not only low in calories and healthy but also adds a touch of fresh green to your table, perfectly counterbalancing the richness of the casserole.
5.Shrimp and Broccoli: A Refreshing and Delicious Side Dish
Ziti casserole has a rich texture, and eating too much of it can make you feel greasy. That's when you need a light side dish to balance it out, and shrimp and broccoli is the top choice! The shrimp are tender and juicy, while the broccoli is crisp and refreshing. The combination not only looks appealing but also adds a breath of freshness to your table. Whether enjoyed on its own or paired with the casserole, it's a delicious dish that's hard to resist.
6.Stir-Fried Shrimp: A Simple and Tasty Seafood Pairing
Ziti casserole and the refreshing taste of stir-fried shrimp are an absolute match made in heaven!
Fresh shrimp paired with seasonal vegetables are simply stir-fried to retain the tenderness of the shrimp and the crispness of the vegetables.
This dish is simple to prepare, adding a touch of ocean freshness to your table and allowing your taste buds to find the perfect balance between richness and lightness.
7.Cantonese Blanched Chinese Broccoli: Infuse Your Table with Refreshment
Ziti casserole can also be paired with Cantonese blanched Chinese broccoli. Cantonese blanched Chinese broccoli is tender, sweet, and paired with a simple ginger and garlic sauce, which not only preserves the original flavor of the vegetables but also adds a touch of fresh green to your table. It's suitable for both daily dinners and holiday gatherings.
8.Roasted Green Beans: A Simple and Tasty Creative Side Dish
Roasted green beans are the perfect choice to go with ziti casserole!
Green beans roasted in the oven have a slightly crispy outer layer while remaining tender and juicy inside. Each bite emits a natural sweetness.
9.Roasted Cauliflower: A Simple and Healthy Perfect Partner
Ziti casserole and roasted cauliflower are the best combination! With just olive oil, salt, and pepper, cauliflower can be made crispy and delicious in the oven. Roasted cauliflower is low in carbohydrates and can perfectly balance the richness of the casserole.
10.Corn and Vegetable Platter: A Refreshing and Nutritious Partner
The corn and vegetable platter is sweet and refreshing.
Paired with ziti casserole, it is not only nutritious but also adds fresh colors, making the dish look more appetizing.
What Dessert Goes with Baked Ziti
Tiramisu
Tiramisu is a classic dessert and can be served as a post-meal dessert for ziti casserole. It can help balance the heaviness of ziti casserole, making you feel sweet and refreshed, and you'll enjoy it very much.
Vanilla Ice Cream
Vanilla ice cream has a rich milky and vanilla flavor, and its texture is very smooth and delicate. Paired with ziti casserole, the contrast between hot and cold can neutralize the umami and greasiness of ziti casserole, bringing a wonderful experience.
Cheesecake
Cheesecake is also a great match for ziti casserole. It has a rich cheese flavor that can blend well with the flavors of the meat and vegetables in the casserole, creating an interesting contrast.
Fruit Platter
Ziti casserole has a rich sauce, and eating too much may make you feel greasy. Pairing it with fresh fruits can not only neutralize the greasiness but also provide more nutrition. It's a visual treat as well. Common fruits include strawberries, blueberries, bananas, oranges, etc.
Easy Baked Ziti Recipe
Ingredients
4 cups (32 ounces) tomato sauce
2 cups (16 ounces) ricotta cheese
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon lemon zest
1 teaspoon oregano
¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
¾ teaspoon sea salt, plus a little more for the pasta water
Freshly ground black pepper
1 pound macaroni
Extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling
1 pound fresh spinach
1½ cups grated smoked mozzarella cheese
¼ cup grated pecorino or parmesan cheese
Chopped fresh parsley and/or torn basil leaves, for garnish
Steps
Preheat the oven to 425°F. Spread ½ cup of tomato sauce on the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking dish.
In a medium bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, garlic, lemon zest, oregano, red pepper flakes, half a teaspoon of salt, and a few grinds of fresh pepper.
In a large pot of salted boiling water, cook the pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain.
Return the pot to the stove. Drizzle a little olive oil in the bottom of the pot over low heat, then add the spinach. Sauté for 1 to 2 minutes until the spinach is wilted. If necessary, cook in batches. Remove the spinach from the pot, gently squeeze out the excess moisture. Chop it and set it aside.
Return the pasta to the pot along with the remaining tomato sauce, most of the chopped spinach, ¼ teaspoon of sea salt, and some more fresh pepper. Stir well to combine.
Place half of the pasta in the baking dish, top it with a few spoonfuls of the ricotta cheese mixture and the remaining spinach. Then spoon the rest of the pasta on top. Sprinkle the mozzarella cheese and pecorino cheese over the top. Drizzle with olive oil and bake for 16 to 22 minutes until the cheese is browned.
Garnish with fresh basil or parsley and serve hot.
