Cooked ziti

Cooked ziti is a type of Italian pasta with a tubular and smooth shape, traditionally made from durum wheat semolina. Its name comes from the Italian word zita, which means "fiancée," and it is very popular in the Campania region and in the southern cuisine of Italy. This pasta is characterized by its medium size and its ability to absorb sauces, making it an ideal ingredient for baked dishes.

Cooked ziti is widely used in classic recipes such as baked ziti, where it is combined with tomato sauce, mozzarella, and ricotta cheese before being baked, offering a creamy texture and a comforting flavor. Due to its shape and consistency, ziti holds both light and thick sauces well, making every bite flavorful and satisfying.

In terms of its properties, ziti is an important source of complex carbohydrates, which provide sustained energy. Being made from durum wheat, it also offers plant-based proteins and small amounts of fiber, although its nutritional value will depend on the ingredients it is combined with in the recipe.

In different regions of Latin America, cooked ziti may be known as tubular pasta, macaroni (although this term is more generic and also applies to other shapes), or simply baking pasta. However, the name "ziti" is usually maintained to refer specifically to this type of pasta in imported or Italian-inspired recipes.