Linguine Bake With Aubergine Cherry Tomatoes And Mozzarella 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.

EGGPLANT, TOMATO AND MOZZARELLA PASTA BAKE

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Season aggressively with salt. Add the rigatoni and cook 3 minutes less than the package directions. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water and drain.
• Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 400 degrees F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Toss the eggplant and tomatoes with 3 tablespoons olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Spread on the baking sheet and roast until the eggplant is golden brown and tomatoes are tender, 25 to 30 minutes. (Leave the oven on.)
• Toss the rigatoni with the eggplant, tomatoes, about 1/4 cup pasta water and the marinara sauce in a large bowl. If it looks dry, add the remaining pasta water. Stir in 1 cup mozzarella.
• Spray a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with nonstick spray. Transfer the pasta to the baking dish and top with the remaining cup mozzarella and the Parmesan and drizzle with the remaining tablespoon olive oil. Bake until the cheese is melted and golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes. (Turn the broiler on at the end if you want the cheese to brown more.) Garnish with additional Parmesan and the chopped basil and serve.

LINGUINE BAKE WITH AUBERGINE, CHERRY TOMATOES AND MOZZARELLA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 200°C/180°C fan/gas 6. Put the aubergine pieces in a roasting tin with the cherry tomatoes, onion, garlic and herbs, season well and drizzle with the oil. Toss together and roast for 45 mins until really soft and tender.
• Meanwhile, cook the linguine in boiling salted water for 8 mins until starting to soften but still firm.
• Drain the pasta (reserving the cooking water) and return to the pan. Add the passata and a splash of cooking water, then toss to mix.
• When the veg is cooked, add to the pasta pan (leaving the oven switched on) and toss together. Tip into a 23cm x 30cm ovenproof dish and dot all over with the mozzarella and olives, nestling them into the pasta.
• Scatter with the grated cheese and breadcrumbs and return to the oven for 10 mins, until the top is golden brown and the cheese is melty and oozy. Cook for a little longer if you want some of the pasta to turn crispy on top.