What is the history of the Italian food of baked ziti?

Answer 1

Popular legend has it that Marco Polo introduced pasta to Italy following his exploration of the Far East in the late 13th century; however, we can trace pasta back as far as the fourth century B.C., where an Etruscan tomb showed a group of natives making what appears to be pasta. The Chinese were making a noodle-like food as early as 3000 B.C. And Greek mythology suggests that the Greek God Vulcan invented a device that made strings of dough (the first spaghetti!).
Ziti is a southern dish, from Southern Italy

Answer 2

Ziti are macaroni tubes sized smaller than rigatoni but larger than mezzani. The addition of the word rigati (e.g. ziti rigati) denotes lines or ridges on the pasta's surface.

Ziti is Italian for "a bridegroom." Although the common form of modern ziti is about two inches in length, the name makes more sense when considering the original, classic form of ziti, which was over 18 inches long.

Baked ziti is a popular baked Italian casserole dish made with ziti macaroni and sauce. In many recipes, the ziti is first cooked separately while a tomato and cheese sauce is prepared, which may include meat, sausage, mushrooms, peppers, onions, and more. The cooked and drained ziti is then combined with the cooked sauce, which may be layered with additional varieties of cheeses, baked in the oven, and served hot.

Answer 3

Baked Ziti Giada

Answer 4

Giada's Easy Ziti al Forno Recipe:

INGREDIENTS:

2 cups half-and-half
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 1/4 cups shredded provolone cheese
1 1/4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1 1/4 cups shredded Swiss cheese
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
2 egg yolks, beaten
8 ounces ziti pasta
salt to taste
ground black pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Butter a 2 quart ovenproof casserole dish; set aside.
Cook pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until al dente. Drain.
Meanwhile, bring half-and-half, basil, and crushed red pepper to a simmer in a heavy, large saucepan over medium high heat. Add cheeses 1 handful at a time, stirring constantly until cheeses are melted and smooth. Remove from heat, and stir in egg yolks. Season with salt and black pepper to taste. Mix in pasta. Spoon into prepared dish.
Bake until heated through, approximately 10 minutes.

*********************************************************
Ziti are macaroni tubes sized smaller than rigatoni but larger than mezzani. The addition of the word rigati (e.g. ziti rigati) denotes lines or ridges on the pasta's surface.

Ziti is Italian for "a bridegroom." Although the common form of modern ziti is about two inches in length, the name makes more sense when considering the original, classic form of ziti, which was over 18 inches long.

Baked ziti is a popular baked Italian casserole dish made with ziti macaroni and sauce. In many recipes, the ziti is first cooked separately while a tomato and cheese sauce is prepared, which may include meat, sausage, mushrooms, peppers, onions, and more. The cooked and drained ziti is then combined with the cooked sauce, which may be layered with additional varieties of cheeses, baked in the oven, and served hot.