Cheesy Aubergine Tomato Spaghetti Food

AUBERGINE SPAGHETTI

Steps:

• Cut the aubergines into chunky cubes, sprinkle them with some salt and let them sit for 20 minutes. Dry them off with kitchen paper, pressing lightly.
• Saute: Peel the garlic cloves, smash them slightly but leave them whole. Heat the olive oil in a wide non-stick pan and add the garlic cloves. Turn the heat to low and fry the garlic, stirring often, until it starts to sizzle and smell. Don't let it burn.
• Add the aubergines, stir to coat them in oil, and cook on medium heat until translucent and soft.
• Simmer: Add the chopped tomatoes, herbs, and stock. Bring everything to a boil, cover the pan leaving a crack open and let cook for about 20 minutes until the liquid has evaporated and the aubergines are very soft. If there is too much liquid left in the pan by the time the aubergines are soft, just take away the lid and let the sauce bubble for a little while longer.
• Cook pasta: While the sauce is cooking, start cooking the spaghetti.
• Mix: Mash the aubergines with a fork, add the sliced basil leaves, season to taste, and mix with the spaghetti. Serve with some grated Parmesan if desired.

TOMATO & AUBERGINE PASTA

Steps:

• Boil the pasta according to pack instructions. Meanwhile, heat the oil in a frying pan and fry the aubergine for 5 mins. Season to taste. Add garlic and sugar, and fry for another 2 mins until the garlic is softened. Tip the tomatoes, capers and parsley into the pan, warm through briefly then fold through the cooked, drained pasta.

PASTA ALLA NORMA (EGGPLANT PASTA)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 240°C / 450°F (220°C fan). Line a tray with baking / parchment paper.
• Toss eggplant with oil, salt and pepper. Spread on the tray and roast for 20 minutes.
• Flip, then roast for a further 5 minutes. Cool on tray (this helps the eggplant hold its shape when tossing).
• Bring a large pot of salted water to the boil. Start cooking the pasta a couple of minutes after you start making the sauce (next section), until al dente or to your liking.
• Heat oil in a very large skillet over medium heat. Add garlic, cook for 20 seconds until golden, then add onion and cook for 2 to 3 minutes until translucent and cooked through.
• Increase heat to medium-high and add wine, if using. Let it simmer, scraping the base of the pan to deglaze, until the wine mostly evaporates.
• Add tomato passata. Now pour the water into the passata bottle, screw on the lid, shake, and pour that in too (waste nothing!)
• Add dried herbs, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper. Stir and simmer 5 minutes.
• Stir in eggplant, then add cooked and drained pasta. GENTLY toss until pasta is coated in the sauce (so the eggplant doesn't turn into complete mush!).
• Serve immediately, garnished with a good pinch of fresh basil and parmesan.

AUBERGINE, TOMATO & PARMESAN BAKE (MELANZANE ALLA PARMIGIANA)

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. In a shallow pan, mix together the garlic and 4 tbsp of the olive oil. Cook over a high heat for 3 mins, tip in the tomatoes, then simmer for 8 mins, stirring every now and then. Stir in the tomato purée.
• Meanwhile, heat a griddle pan until very hot. Brush a few of the aubergines with a little oil, then add to the pan. Cook over a high heat until well browned and cooked through, about 5-7 mins. Turn them halfway through cooking. Lift onto kitchen paper and do the next batch.
• When all the aubergines are cooked, lay a few of them in the bottom of an ovenproof dish, then spoon over some sauce. Sprinkle with Parmesan and basil leaves. Add seasoning, then repeat this process with the remaining ingredients. Finally, pour the egg over the top, sprinkle over a little more Parmesan, then bake for 20 mins or until the topping is golden.

AUBERGINE MILANESE WITH SPAGHETTI

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Cut the aubergine into 1cm slices lengthways. Put the flour, egg and breadcrumbs into separate bowls. Season the flour well with salt and pepper, and stir the finely grated Grana Padano into the breadcrumbs. Working one strip at a time, coat the aubergine in the flour, then the egg, letting the excess drip off before dunking in the cheesy breadcrumbs.
• Heat 4 tbsp oil in a wide frying pan over a medium-high heat and fry the breaded aubergines in batches for 2-3 mins until golden and crisp. Flip over with tongs and fry on the other side for another 2-3 mins. Transfer to a baking sheet, and fry the remaining batches. Add more oil to the pan in between batches if you need to. Transfer to the oven and cook for 15-20 mins until very tender throughout.
• While the aubergines are in the oven, wipe out the pan, heat 2 tbsp oil and fry the garlic for a few mins until fragrant. Tip in the tomatoes with half a can of water and some seasoning. Simmer for 10 mins until thickened slightly.
• Cook the spaghetti following the pack instructions and drain, keeping 100ml pasta water. Tip the pasta into the tomato sauce and toss well to coat. Add a splash of the pasta water if you need to loosen the sauce slightly. Divide the spaghetti between plates and top with the aubergine Milanese. Scatter with the remaining Grana Padano cheese shavings and serve with a rocket salad dressed in a little balsamic.