Pasta And Aubergine Bake Food

AUBERGINE PASTA BAKE RECIPE - PASTA.COM

Steps:

• PREPARE AUBERGINE/EGGPLANT: Preheat an oven to 350F. Place the sliced eggplant into a colander and dust with salt. Allow the eggplant to sit for 10 minutes to remove excess moisture.
• TOMATO SAUCE: Prepare the tomato sauce, into a large saucepan add one tablespoon of olive oil and place on a medium heat. Add the onion to the saucepan and cook for 8 minutes, then add the garlic and saute for 1 minute.
• Pour the tomato into the saucepan and bring to a simmer. Simmer the tomato sauce for 20 minutes then add the basil.
• OPTIONAL: Blend the tomato sauce using a hand blender for a smooth sauce, alternatively leave the sauce chunky. Season the tomato sauce with sugar and salt to taste.
• COOK PASTA: Fill a saucepan halfway with water and place on a high heat, once boiling add the pasta and salt. Cook according to packet instructions approximately 8 minutes then strain the pasta through a colander.
• COOK EGGPLANT: Place a saute pan on a medium heat and add one tablespoon of olive oil. Once the oil is hot, cook the eggplant for 1 minute then turn the eggplant and cook for a further minute. Remove the golden eggplant from the pan and add to the tomato sauce.
• BUILD EGGPLANT PASTA BAKE: In a large saucepan combine the tomato sauce, eggplant and cooked pasta. Pour half the eggplant pasta mixture into a baking dish then add a layer of shredded mozzarella. Then add the remaining eggplant pasta mixture and mozzarella.
• BAKE EGGPLANT PASTA BAKE: Top the eggplant pasta bake with grated parmesan and transfer to the preheated oven. Bake for 30 minutes until the pasta bake is golden brown and oozing with melted cheese.
• SERVE: Remove the dish from the oven and allow it to cool for 5 minutes. Then serve the eggplant pasta bake warm.

VEGETABLE PASTA BAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 190C/170C Fan/Gas 5.
• Put the peppers, aubergine, courgette and onion into a roasting tin or deep baking dish and coat in the oil. Season with salt and pepper and cook for 45 minutes, turning twice, until the vegetables are tender and golden brown.
• Add the cherry tomatoes, chopped tomatoes, garlic and basil and cook for 10-15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, cook the pasta in boiling salted water according to pack instructions. Add 4-6 tablespoons of the pasta cooking water to the vegetables to loosen the tomato sauce.
• Drain the pasta and stir into the roasted vegetables. Stir through the mozzarella and pesto, top with Parmesan and return to the oven for another 10 minutes, until the cheese has melted.

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.

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.

BAKED RIGATONI WITH AUBERGINE & MOZZARELLA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to fan 140C/conventional 160C/gas 3. Halve the tomatoes through their equator, rather than their core. Stand them cut-side up on a shallow baking tray (I use a nonstick Swiss roll tin). Scatter a little salt, pepper and sugar over the cut surfaces and drizzle with extra virgin olive oil. Roast for 45 minutes.
• Meanwhile, slice the aubergine into rounds, brush both sides with oil and spread out in one layer on another tray. After the tomatoes have been roasting for 45 minutes, put the aubergines in with them and roast for another 45 minutes.
• Towards the end of the time, cook the pasta in plenty of gently boiling well-salted water until nearly al dente - it should be undercooked because it finishes off in the oven. Drain well and tip into a large bowl. Have ready 4 tbsp of extra virgin olive oil mixed with the crushed garlic and chopped olives. Toss the oil mixture through the pasta and turn half of it into a 2-21⁄2 litre ovenproof dish.
• Remove the tomatoes and aubergines from the oven. (You can prepare them up to 24 hours ahead.)
• Turn up the oven to fan 180C/conventional 200C/gas 6. Scatter half the tomatoes and their juices over the pasta in the dish. Roughly tear the basil leaves and scatter on top. Drain the mozzarella, pat dry with kitchen paper, then slice very thinly. Lay two-thirds of the slices over the tomatoes. Grind black pepper over, and scatter over the aubergine. Add the rest of the pasta, top with the remaining tomatoes and mozzarella and then the parmesan. (Can be made up to here 3-4 hours in advance). Bake for 20-25 minutes, until piping hot and the top is extra crusty. Serve hot with a sprinkle of basil and extra parmesan.

AUBERGINE, CHILLI & BACON PASTA

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large frying pan. Add the aubergine and cook for 8 mins until soft. Add the bacon and fry until cooked through, adding the garlic and chilli for the final min. Tip in the tomatoes, increase the heat and cook for 10 mins until thickened, stirring regularly.
• Meanwhile, cook the pasta. Drain well, then stir through the sauce. Serve with a scattering of Parmesan, if you like.

ROASTED AUBERGINE, TOMATO & BASIL PASTA

Steps:

• Heat oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Toss the aubergine chunks with the oil and whole garlic cloves in a roasting tin with some seasoning. Roast for 10 mins, add the tomatoes, vinegar and sugar, then cook for another 5 mins. Meanwhile, cook the pasta, then drain.
• When the veg is tender remove the garlic cloves, snip off their ends and squeeze the roasted garlic onto a board. Mash with a fork, then stir this garlic paste back into the veg with the basil leaves - squashing most of the tomatoes as you go. Tip in the cooked pasta, stir everything together in the roasting tin, divide between 2 bowls, then scatter with a few more basil leaves to serve.

SPICED AUBERGINE BAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Generously brush each aubergine slice with vegetable oil and place in a single layer on a baking tray, or two if they don't fit on one. Cook on the low shelves for 10 mins, then turn over and cook for a further 5-10 mins until they are golden. Reduce the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4.
• Heat the coconut oil in a large, heavy-based frying pan and add the onions. Cover and sweat on a low heat for about 5 mins until softened. Add the garlic, mustard seeds, fenugreek seeds, garam masala, chilli powder, cinnamon stick, cumin and ground coriander. Cook for a few secs until it starts to smell beautiful and aromatic.
• Pour the chopped tomatoes and coconut milk into the spiced onions and stir well. Check the seasoning and add a little sugar, salt or pepper to taste.
• Spoon a third of the tomato sauce on the bottom of a 2-litre ovenproof dish. Layer with half the aubergine slices. Spoon over a further third of tomato sauce, then the remaining aubergine slices, and finish with the rest of the sauce. Sprinkle over the flaked almonds and coriander (if using), reserving some to serve, and bake for 25-30 mins. Serve garnished with more coriander.

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.