Greek Baked Pasta

• FAST
• MAKE-AHEAD
• STAFF-FAVORITE

Ingredients

1. 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2. 1 1/2 pounds lean ground lamb
3. 1 onion, finely chopped
4. 1 teaspoon dried oregano, crumbled
5. 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
6. Pinch of ground cloves
7. Salt and freshly ground pepper
8. 3 cups jarred marinara sauce
9. 1 pound ziti or penne
10. 3 cups fresh ricotta (1 1/2 pounds)
11. 4 large egg yolks
12. 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
13. 3/4 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese

1. Preheat the oven to 350°. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. In a large saucepan, heat the olive oil until shimmering. Add the lamb, onion, oregano, cinnamon, cloves and a generous pinch each of salt and pepper. Cook over high heat, stirring frequently, until the lamb is no longer pink and any liquid has evaporated, about 8 minutes. Add the marinara sauce and bring to a boil. Boil over high heat, stirring occasionally, until the sauce has reduced slightly, about 5 minutes.
2. Cook the pasta until barely al dente; drain and return to the pot. Meanwhile, in a blender, blend 2 cups of the ricotta with the yolks, nutmeg and 1/2 cup of the Parmigiano-Reggiano until smooth. Season with salt and pepper. Pulse in the remaining ricotta.
3. Add the lamb ragù to the pasta and toss. Transfer the pasta to a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Pour the ricotta mixture on top and sprinkle with the remaining 1/4 cup of Parmigiano-Reggiano. Bake in the center of the oven for about 20 minutes, until heated through. Turn the broiler on and broil until the top is golden brown. Let stand for a few minutes before serving.