Healthy Eggplant Aubergine Pasta Food

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.

PASTA ALLA NORMA (TOMATO AND EGGPLANT PASTA)

Steps:

• Heat up the olive oil, then stir in the eggplant, making sure it all gets coated in oil. Let cook, stirring occasionally, for about ten to fifteen minutes.
• Add the garlic and chili flakes to the pan and cook, stirring, for a couple more minutes.
• Add the tomatoes to the pan, then crush them and break them up with a wooden spoon. Pour in the balsamic vinegar, then add the sugar/honey. Simmer for about 15 minutes or until the eggplant is nice and soft.
• At the end of the cooking time, season well and stir in most of the basil.
• Meanwhile, boil the pasta according to the packet instructions (until al dente is best). Then drain, reserving some of the water.
• Add the pasta to the sauce and toss until well coated. Add enough of the reserved cooking water to make the dish nice and smooth and 'silky'.
• Rip the mozzarella into the pan and stir again briefly.
• Serve out into bowls immediately. Top with grated parmesan and the remaining fresh basil.

HEALTHY EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE) PASTA

Steps:

• Wash eggplant, cut into 1/4-1/2 inch thick slices (keep skin on). Brush both sides of each slice with olive oil and sprinkle with salt. place into broiler for 7 minutes or until golden brown. Flip over all slices and broil agian.
• In the mean time cook pasta and heat sauce.
• When both sides of the eggplant slices are light brown, cool for a few minutes and cut into chunks.
• Drain pasta.
• Mix together pasta, sauce, eggplant, feta.
• Note: Cooked chicken could be added for protein.

EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE) PARMESAN

Steps:

• preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• mix egg and milk together in bowl, blend.
• heat olive oil in med frying pan.
• dip eggplant slices into egg/milk mixture.
• dip eggplant into breadcrumbs.
• place 4 slices at a time, into olive oil in frying pan.
• fry eggplant on each side, until each side is golden brown (you want them crispy, not mushy).
• remove eggplant from skillet, and place on paper towels to drain excess oil.
• repeat dipping and frying proces with other 4 eggplant slices.
• place 1/2 cup spaghetti sauce into 9x13 casserole dish.
• place eggplant into bottom of cassserole.
• pour spaghetti sauce over top of eggplant.
• sprinkle mozzarella/parmesan cheese over top of spaghetti sauce.
• bake in 350 degree oven for 30 minutes or until cheese is melted.
• serve over pasta if desired.

PASTA WITH EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE)

Steps:

• Heat 3 tablespoons of the olive oil in a large, deep skillet.
• Add the eggplant cubes and cook, stirring, until golden brown, about 15 to 18 minutes.
• Meanwhile, cook the ziti according to package directions.
• When it is al dente, drain.
• Remove the eggplant from the saute pan.
• Add the garlic and the onion, along with the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil, and cook for 3 minutes, stirring.
• Add the tomatoes and crush them with your fingers.
• Add the cooked eggplant cubes and the olives.
• Cook and stir 15 minutes, until sauce is thick.
• Season with salt and pepper.
• Stir in the basil.
• Cook 2 minutes.
• Add the ziti to the sauce and stir to combine.
• Serve hot.

ROASTED EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE) AND ONION PASTA

Steps:

• Preheat broiler.
• Spray baking sheet lightly with nonstick spray.
• Place eggplant slices and onion rings on baking sheet; broil 20 minutes, turning once.
• Remove from oven; cool.
• Cut into bite size pieces.
• While eggplant and onions roast, cook pasta according to pkg directions, omitting salt and oil.
• Heat oil in skillet over medium heat.
• Add garlic and saute 1 minutes.
• Add tomato, basil or Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper; cook over low heat for 10 minutes.
• Stir in eggplant and onion; cook 5 minutes.
• Add in pasta and stir well.
• Top with cheeses and pistachio nuts.
• Serve with a robust wine and a salad of greens.

EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE) SAUCE FOR PASTA

Steps:

• In a very large kettle, heat olive oil over medium heat.
• Add onion and garlic; cook until the onion is soft.
• Add tomatoes, eggplant, bell pepper, tomato paste, basil, oregano, sugar, salt, pepper, and wine; stir.
• Bring to boil; reduce heat, cover and simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Put into hot jars and seal.
• Makes 7 pints or 4 quarts.
• Process in hot water bath for 40 minutes.
• This is very good served over pasta with Mozzarella cheese.

CHUNKY EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE) SAUCE FOR PASTA

Steps:

• In a pressure cooker, heat oil over medium-high heat.
• Add onion and garlic; cook, stirring frequently, for 1 minute.
• Add water, tomato paste, eggplant, tomatoes, basil, salt and red pepper flakes.
• Following manufacturer's directions bring to high pressure.
• Cook 4 minutes, then allow pressure to come down.
• Remove lid and cook, stirring, until sauce is thick.
• Serve hot over pasta and sprinkle with parmesan cheese, if desired.

EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE) PASTA SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a large skillet. Mince the garlic or put it through a press, and add it to the olive oil. Let it heat gently while you prepare the eggplant.
• Wash the eggplant first, then chop it very thoroughly, without peeling. Seed and dice the green peppers.
• Add the peppers, eggplant, tomatoes, olives, and capers to the oil. Stir well until the oil is evenly coating all the vegetables. Add salt to taste.
• Now add the remaining ingredients, stir again, and cover the skillet. Lower the heat to a very small flame and allow the sauce to simmer gently for about 1 hour. Stir occasionally to keep any of it from scorching, and add more wine or some water if it gets too thick.
• Makes about 2 quarts of sauce.
• The Vegetarian Epicure.

PASTA ARRABBIATA WITH AUBERGINE

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large non-stick pan, add the onions, cover and cook for 5 mins. Remove the lid and cook for 5 mins more, stirring frequently until softened. Add the garlic, chilli flakes and paprika, stir briefly, then tip in the tomatoes and a can of water. Stir in the bouillon and aubergine, then bring to a simmer, cover and cook for 20 mins.
• Cook the penne in a pan of boiling water for 12 mins until al dente. Drain, reserving 60ml of the cooking water. Add the cooked penne to the sauce, and toss well with the basil and a little of the reserved water, if needed. Spoon into two shallow bowls, and serve topped with the cheese and some extra basil, if you like.

PASTA ALLA NORMA

Steps:

• Toss the aubergines with the salt, then tip into a colander set over a bowl for 30 mins, to extract any moisture.
• Heat 2 tbsp of the oil in a casserole dish or saucepan. Tip in the onion and a pinch of salt, and cook over a low heat for 10 mins. Add the garlic and chilli, and cook for 1 min. Tip in the tomatoes and sugar, and bring to the simmer. Cook, uncovered, for 20 mins, stirring occasionally. Heat the oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7.
• Pat the aubergine dry with kitchen paper, then toss with the remaining oil. Spread out on a baking sheet and roast for 25-30 mins until softened and golden around the edges. Meanwhile, cook the pasta following pack instructions, reserving 100ml of the cooking water.
• Stir the aubergine into the sauce with the basil and capers. Season to taste, then toss the spaghetti in the pan with the sauce and a splash of the pasta water. Divide between four bowls and top with the ricotta and extra basil, if using.