4. Using Ricotta
When it comes to making baked ziti, as mentioned the cheeses are important. Ricotta is one of the defining ingredients when it comes to making the perfect baked ziti. One of the downfalls of using ricotta is the fact that when ricotta is baked it can create a grainy and dry layer in your pasta dish.
One of the ways to work around this issue is to simply add an egg to the ricotta before putting it in the dish. Another option is to use cottage cheese instead. However, ricotta has a great flavor that cottage cheese just does not provide.
If you are using ricotta and do not want to add in an egg, try folding the ricotta directly into the sauce and the pasta instead of trying to layer it in. This will help to solve the problem as it distributes the cheese more evenly and does not leave any dry bits.