Ingredients for 5-6 servings

½ cup water
¾ cup grated mozzarella cheese
1 lb/500g ground pork (mince) OR Italian Sausages removed from casings (Note 2)
1 onion (brown, white or yellow), finely chopped
1 tsp dried basil
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp sugar (any type)
1.4 lb / 700g bottle of tomato passata / pureed tomato 
3 garlic cloves
300g ziti or penne pasta
Salt and pepper

Sausage Seasoning:

1 tsp black pepper
1 tbsp paprika (any type - all go great with this)
1 tsp salt (table salt)
2 tsp fennel seeds
2 tsp onion powder
3 tsp red pepper flakes OR 2 tsp cayenne pepper (adjust to taste)

Directions

Cook ziti for the recommended cooking time on the packet MINUS 2 minutes. Drain and transfer to baking dish.

Preheat oven to 180C/350F.

Heat oil in a large skillet over high heat. Add onion and garlic and cook for 2 minutes or until onion is translucent.

Add pork mince and cook, breaking it up as you go, until it turns from pink to white. Add Sausage Seasonings and cook for 2 minutes.

Add passata, water, basil, oregano and sugar. Bring to simmer, reduce heat to medium and cook for 5 minutes. Adjust salt and pepper to taste (remember it gets spread across lots of pasta).

Pour the sausage mixture over the ziti. Top with cheese. Cover loosely with foil and bake for 20 minutes, then remove the foil and bake for a further 5 to 10 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and golden. Stand for 5 minutes before serving.