Baked Penne with Sausage and Creamy Ricotta

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 garlic cloves, smashed
• 1 pound hot or sweet Italian fennel sausage, casings removed
• 1 28 ounce can tomato puree
• 1 1/2 cups water
• 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
• 1 bay leaf
• 1/4 teaspoon ground fennel
• Salt and freshly ground pepper
• 1 pound penne
• 3 cups Creamy Ricotta
• 1/2 pound fresh mozzarella, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
• 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. In a large saucepan, heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil. Add the garlic and cook over moderate heat, stirring, until lightly browned, about 1 minute. Add the sausage and cook, breaking up the meat, until browned, about 8 minutes. Add the tomato puree, water, sugar, bay leaf and fennel. Season with salt and pepper and bring to a boil. Simmer over low heat until thickened, about 30 minutes. Remove the garlic, mash it to a paste and stir it back into the sauce; discard the bay leaf.

2. Meanwhile, cook the penne in a large pot of boiling salted water until al dente. Drain the pasta and return it to the pot. Stir in the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Using a slotted spoon, add the cooked sausage to the pasta, then add 1 cup of the tomato sauce and toss to coat the penne.

3. Spoon the pasta into a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Pour the remaining tomato sauce over the pasta and dollop large spoonfuls of the Creamy Ricotta on top. Gently fold some of the ricotta into the pasta; don't overmix -- you should have pockets of ricotta. Scatter the mozzarella on top and sprinkle with the Parmigiano-Reggiano. Bake the pasta for about 45 minutes, or until bubbling and golden on top. Let rest for 20 minutes before serving.

MAKE AHEAD:

1. The baked penne can be refrigerated, covered, overnight. Rewarm before serving.

SERVINGS8

PREP TIME1 hr 15 mins

TOTAL TIME2 hrs 15 mins

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