Baked Pasta, Sausage & Ricotta -Uli's Famous Sausage Factory

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• ¾ pound Heavy Garlic chicken sausage or Cajun Brand Chicken Andouille (3 links with casing removed)
• 4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• ½ teaspoon fennel seeds, coarsely crushed
• Pinch of red-pepper flakes, plus more for serving (optional)
• 1 (28-ounce) can whole peeled tomatoes with their juices
• 1 (14-ounce) can crushed or strained tomatoes
• 2 bay leaves
• Kosher salt
• 12 ounces dried pasta, such as small shells, farfalle or other shaped pasta
• 8 ounces fresh mozzarella, torn into bite-size pieces
• 6 ounces whole-milk ricotta (about ¾ cup)
• ⅓ cup grated Parmesan
• ¼ cup basil leaves
• Black pepper, for serving