Eggplant Mushroom Pasta Toss Food

EGGPLANT AND MUSHROOM RIGATONI

Steps:

• In a large deep saute pan, heat the olive oil over medium high heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
• Add eggplant and mushrooms. Cook for 10-14 minutes, occasionally stirring.
• Season with salt and pepper.
• Add the tomato pasta and stir. Cook for one minute.
• Add the oregano and red pepper flakes. Stir and cook for 30 seconds.
• Deglaze the pan with the red wine; cook until most of the wine has been absorbed.
• Add the balsamic vinegar and tomatoes. Use the back of a spoon the break apart the tomatoes. Bring to a boil then reduce heat to low. Cover and cook for 20 minutes.
• While the sauce is cooking, make the pasta. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Salt the water.
• Cook the pasta according to package direction.
• Before draining the pasta, reserve 1/2 cup of the cooking liquid. Set aside.
• Drain the pasta and add it to the tomato sauce. Pour in the reserved cooking liquid. Gently toss to combine.
• Taste and add more salt or pepper if needed.
• Serve with fresh herbs.

CREAMY MUSHROOM, EGGPLANT, AND SALAMI BAKED PASTA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
• Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes and cook, stirring, until the garlic is golden, about 2 minutes. Add both cans of the tomatoes, the oregano and 1 cup of water. Increase the heat to medium-high and bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat slightly and simmer rapidly, uncovered, until thick, 15 to 20 minutes. Stir in the ricotta and season with salt and pepper.
• While the sauce simmers, heat the remaining 3 tablespoons oil in a large non-stick skillet over medium high heat. Add the eggplant and 1/2 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden brown and tender, 6 to 8 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl with a slotted spoon. Add the mushrooms to the skillet and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden brown, about 6 minutes; transfer to the bowl with eggplant.
• Cook the shells in the water until very al dente, about 2 minutes less than the package directions. Drain the pasta and add it to the bowl with the eggplant and mushrooms.
• Add the tomato sauce, salami, half the Asiago and half of the Parmesan to the bowl and stir well to combine. Transfer the pasta to a 3- to 4-quart baking dish and top with the remaining Asiago and Parmesan. Bake, uncovered, until browned, about 15 minutes. Let the pasta rest for about 10 minutes before serving.

ZUCCHINI PASTA WITH MUSHROOMS, EGGPLANT AND ROASTED PEPPERS

Steps:

• Halve the zucchini lengthwise. Using a vegetable / potato peeler, peel long thin strands of zucchini (so that they somewhat resemble fettuccine). If desired, allow to sit at room temperature, uncovered, for a couple of hours -- this improves the texture of the zucchini.
• TO COOK THE ZUCCHINI:.
• Heat 4 cups of (salted) water to boiling. Cook the zucchini strands in the boiling water for one to two minutes, and then immediately rinse under cold running water to stop the cooking process.
• TO COOK THE OTHER VEGETABLES:.
• Put the mushrooms in a microwave-safe dish and cook on high until the mushrooms are soft, about five minutes. Repeat with the eggplant, adding it to the mushrooms so that it cooks in the mushroom's juices. Add the roasted peppers to the vegetables and microwave for one minute.
• In a large bowl, toss the zucchini with the rest of the vegetables and 3/4 c pasta sauce. Spoon onto serving plates and top with the remaining 1/4 c sauce.

EGGPLANT AND WILD MUSHROOM PASTA WITH RICOTTA SALATA

Steps:

• Combine the porcinis and chicken stock in a small pot and bring up to a boil. Reduce the heat to lowest setting and let the mushrooms soften and steep for 10 to 15 minutes, until very tender.
• Place a pot of water on the stove to boil for the pasta. When it boils, salt the water to season it. Cut a small x into the bottom of the tomatoes and plunge them into the boiling pasta water for 30 seconds, then remove to a cutting board to cool. Add the cavatappi to the water and cook to al dente, or with a bite to it.
• While the porcinis and pasta cook, trim half of the skin from the eggplant.
• Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Cut the eggplant into 1- by 1/2-inch bite-size pieces. Add the EVOO to the pan, followed by the garlic and eggplant. Turn and toss the eggplant and season it with salt and pepper. Let it brown lightly at edges, about 5 minutes, then reduce heat to medium low and continue to cook.
• Pull the skins off the cooled tomatoes and cut them in half. Seed the tomatoes by gently squeezing them over the sink or a garbage bowl. Dice the tomatoes and add them to the cooking eggplant. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.
• Remove the tender porcinis from the cooking broth and coarsely chop them. Add the broth and chopped mushrooms to the eggplant and tomatoes. Drain the pasta well and add the hot pasta to the pan. Toss to combine and coat and give the pasta a minute to soak in some juice. Add the ricotta salata and the basil; turn to wilt the basil, check the seasoning one last time, and serve.
• Options
• If your market has no ricotta salata (ricotta cheese that's been dried out a little), then use the same amount of feta but go easy on the salt you use in your preparation until your final adjustment because feta is saltier than ricotta salata. Tangy young goat cheese is an option, too. If you use goat cheese, toss and serve the dish without adding the goat cheese directly to the pan. Instead, garnish the individual plates with some crumbles, 2 ounces per portion. Goat cheese is too delicate to mix in as you would the feta or ricotta salata.

SPAGHETTI WITH SHRIMP AND EGGPLANT

Steps:

• Peel and devein the shrimp and set aside.
• Trim the ends of the eggplant and peel it. Cut into 1/2-inch cubes.
• Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a saucepan and add the garlic. Cook, stirring, without browning. Add the tomatoes, honey, pepper flakes, basil, salt and pepper. Stir to blend, cover and simmer, stirring frequently, about 15 minutes.
• Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a large nonstick skillet and when it is very hot add the eggplant, salt and pepper. Cook the eggplant, tossing, until it is nicely browned. Drain and add the eggplant to the tomato sauce. Stir and cover and cook for 15 minutes or until well blended with the sauce.
• Meanwhile, in the same nonstick skillet, add the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil and add the shrimp, salt and pepper. Cook over high heat for 1 minute, stirring. Add the shrimp to the sauce, blend well and cook for 1 minute. Keep warm.
• Meanwhile, salt the water and bring to a boil in a kettle. Add the spaghetti and cook to the desired degree of doneness.
• Drain the spaghetti and return it to the kettle. Add the shrimp and eggplant mixture, toss well and serve immediately with cheese if desired.

PASTA-ZUCCHINI-MUSHROOM TOSS WITH GARLIC-HERB SAUCE FOR ONE

Steps:

• -Saute minced garlic in 2 Tbsp olive oil for 2-3 min over med-high heat.
• -Add mushrooms and zucchini, and saute for 5 minute.
• -Add seasonings.
• -Cook angel hair pasta according to package directions.
• -Using tongs, add pasta to the vegetable mixture, and toss gently.
• -Enjoy with fresh rolls or garlic bread.

ROASTED EGGPLANT AND MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).
• Place eggplant, zucchini, onion and mushrooms in a 2 quart casserole dish. In a small bowl combine the tomato paste with the water, and stir in garlic, basil, salt and pepper. Pour over the vegetables and mix well.
• Bake in preheated oven for 45 minutes, or until eggplant is tender, stirring occasionally. Add water as necessary if vegetables begin to stick; however, vegetables should be fairly dry, with slightly browned edges.

EGGPLANT AND CREAM ON PASTA

Steps:

• To make the seasoning mix, combine the peppercorns, dry mustard, onion powder, salt, garlic powder, basil leaves and white pepper in a small bowl and set aside. Combine the cottage cheese, skim milk and cream cheese in a blender and process until smooth. Set aside. Heat a heavy 10-inch skillet, preferably nonstick, over high heat for about four minutes.
• Combine 1 cup of the eggplant, 1 cup of the onions, 1 cup of the mushrooms, and 2 tablespoons of the seasoning mix in the skillet. Stir and cook for two to three minutes.
• Add 1 cup of the apple juice and cook, scraping the bottom occasionally, until all the liquid evaporates and a glaze forms, about 15 minutes. Add the remaining apple juice, scrape the bottom of the skillet, and add the chicken stock, and the remaining eggplant, onions, mushrooms and seasoning mix. Stir, bring to a boil, and cook over medium heat for 10 minutes.
• Remove from heat and whisk the cottage cheese mixture into the sauce until blended. Add drained pasta, toss, and serve.

RUSTIC SUMMER VEGETABLE PASTA

Steps:

• In a 6-qt. stockpot, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium-high heat. Add zucchini and yellow squash; cook and stir until tender. Remove from pan., In same pot, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium-high heat. Add onion, eggplant and mushrooms; cook and stir until tender. Add garlic and pepper flakes; cook 1 minute longer. Add tomatoes, salt and pepper. Stir in oregano, parsley and half of the basil; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, 15 minutes, stirring occasionally., Meanwhile, cook spaghetti according to package directions. Drain; add spaghetti and squash to vegetable mixture. Drizzle with remaining oil; toss to combine. Top with cheese and remaining basil.