Aubergine Goats Cheese Pasta Food

PASTA BAKE WITH GOATS' CHEESE

Steps:

• Cook the pasta according to package instructions. Drain.
• Meanwhile, heat the oil in a non-stick frying pan and add the onion, pepper, courgette, aubergine and tomatoes. Cook over a medium-high heat for 5-6 minutes until slightly softened and browned at the edges.
• Preheat the oven to 180°C/Gas 4.
• Mix the cooked and drained pasta with the softened vegetables and put in an oven-proof dish. Stir in the pasta sauce and crumble the goats' cheese over the top.
• Bake in the oven for 20 minutes, covering with foil halfway through the cooking time if the top is browning too much. Sprinkle with torn basil before serving.

BAKED GOAT CHEESE PASTA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425°F. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
• Add the tomatoes, garlic, shallot, oregano and red pepper flakes to a 9 x 13 baking dish. Add 2 tablespoons of the olive oil and season with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Toss to combine. Nestle the goat cheese in the dish among the other ingredients and drizzle with the last tablespoon of olive oil. Bake until the tomatoes have blistered and the goat cheese has melted slightly, 22 to 25 minutes.
• While the tomatoes and goat cheese bake, cook the pasta according to the package instructions. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup of pasta water, and set aside.
• Remove the tomatoes and goat cheese from the oven. Add the pesto and begin tossing everything together, breaking up the goat cheese as you go and adding a little pasta water, until you have a creamy consistency. Add the cooked pasta and toss to coat. Serve hot garnished with the fresh basil.

EGGPLANT AND GOAT CHEESE LASAGNA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Spray a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
• Arrange one fourth of eggplant slices in a layer in the bottom of the dish.
• Pour one fourth of pasta sauce on top of eggplant layer.
• Dot pasta sauce layer with one fourth of goat cheese slices.
• Repeat layers three more times with remaining ingredients, ending with a top layer of goat cheese.
• Bake in preheated oven until pasta sauce is bubbling and goat cheese is melted, 45 to 60 minutes.

PESTO PIZZA WITH AUBERGINE & GOAT'S CHEESE

Steps:

• Prepare the dough following the instructions in Basic pizza dough recipe in 'goes well with', right.
• Toss the vegetables in the oil and season well. Grill on your barbecue or griddle pan, about 5 mins each side, until black lines appear and the aubergines are soft. Remove and set aside. Cook one side of the pizzas.
• Spread the pesto onto the cooked side of the pizzas. Add the aubergine, onion and goat's cheese, broken into chunks, plus chilli flakes if you like it spicy. Grill, covered, until the cheese is melted. Serve with the basil leaves sprinkled over.

AUBERGINE TIMBALES WITH GOAT'S CHEESE

Steps:

• Put oil in a large frying pan to cover the base, and heat. Fry the aubergine until softened, 2-3 mins . Season, then drain on paper towel. You may have to do this in batches.
• For the filling, add 2-3 tbsp oil to the pan and fry the pepper, courgette, shallots and garlic over a high heat until they have a good colour, 3-5 mins. Stir in the balsamic vinegar and cook until evaporated. Add the tomatoes and season, then cook for 3 more mins stirring occasionally until the mixture is softened, but not too saucy. Remove from the heat, then mix in the olives, capers, half the shredded basil and the grated parmesan. Set aside to cool.
• Grease the moulds and line the bases with aubergine slices to fit. Top with veg mixture, more aubergine slices (cut to fit if needed) and a slices of cheese. Repeat the layers, finishing with aubergine. Press lightly to firm. Can be covered with cling film and chilled for up to 1 day.
• To cook and serve: heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Chilled cups will need to come to room temperature first. Place the cups on a tray, uncovered, and bake for 12-15 mins until bubbling. Allow to stand for 10 mins while you toss the spinach and remaining basil with vinaigrette and seasoning and divide between six dinner plates. Scatter over the nuts.
• Loosen the tops of the timbales with a table knife and up-end into the centre of the salad on the plates, shaking the cups to help demould. Top with the parmesan shavings and serve.

AUBERGINE, POTATO & GOAT'S CHEESE GRATIN

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Heat 11 /2 tbsp of olive oil in a frying pan and cook the aubergines in batches, browning on both sides, then lower the heat and cook until they are soft. You will need to add more olive oil as you cook, but try not to add too much. (Roast the aubergines if you prefer - brush them with olive oil, place on baking sheets and cook for about 15 mins. I just like the texture better if they are fried for this.) Season them while they're cooking. As each batch is ready, remove from the pan and lay them on a double layer of kitchen paper.
• Heat another 1 tbsp of oil in the pan and add the onions. Cook over a medium heat until softening, about 10-12 mins, then add the garlic and cook for another few mins.
• Slice the potatoes very, very finely. It's best to do this on a mandolin if you have one - it takes more work (and a lot more time) to cut them with a knife.
• Brush the bottom of a gratin dish with olive oil, and arrange the vegetables in layers. Start with half the potatoes, then half the aubergine, onions and tomatoes. Sprinkle the thyme, lemon zest, goat's cheese, olives and seasoning, along with little drizzles of olive oil on the layers as you go. Add another layer of aubergine, onions and tomatoes, again adding the other ingredients as you go. Finish with the rest of the potatoes, arranging them neatly on top. Brush with olive oil and bake for 45 mins. The gratin should be soft, the potatoes tender and the top golden.

EGGPLANT & GOAT CHEESE PASTA

Steps:

• Boil the pasta according to pack instructions.
• Heat the oil in a pan, then gently fry the onion and garlic for about 5 mins until softened.
• Add the eggplant, cook for 3 mins more, then tip in the tomatoes and sugar.
• Add a few drops of tabasco if desired.
• Bring to the boil, simmer for 5 mins, then stir through the basil and goat cheese.
• Toss with the drained pasta and serve.