Baked Ziti Recipe (with Video)

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1 large yellow onion, finely chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 (28-ounce) can whole peeled tomatoes, packed in juice
• 1 (28-ounce) can tomato purée or sauce
• 3/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
• 16 ounces/1 pound ricotta
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 1/2 cup finely grated Parmesan or Pecorino, plus more for grating on top
• 1 pound ziti, rigatoni, penne, manicotti or other short, tubelike pasta
• 1 pound fresh mozzarella, cut into 1/2-inch pieces