Sicilian Style Spaghetti And Eggplant Food

SICILIAN SPAGHETTI WITH EGGPLANT

Steps:

• 1 Layer the eggplant slices in a colander set over a plate, sprinkling each layer with salt. Let stand 30 to 60 minutes. Rinse the eggplant and pat very dry with paper towels. 2 Pour about 1/2 inch of oil into a deep, heavy skillet. Heat the oil over medium heat until a small piece of the eggplant sizzles when placed in the pan. Fry the eggplant slices a few at a time until golden brown on both sides. Drain on paper towels. 3 Pour 3 tablespoons of the oil into a medium saucepan. Add the garlic and crushed red pepper and cook over medium heat until the garlic is deep golden, about 4 minutes. Remove the garlic. Add the tomatoes and salt to taste. Reduce the heat to low and simmer 20 to 30 minutes or until the sauce is thickened. Stir in the basil and turn off the heat. 4 Bring at least 4 quarts of water to a boil in a large pot. Add 2 tablespoons of salt, then the pasta. Stir well. Cook over high heat, stirring frequently, until the pasta is al dente, tender but still firm to the bite. Set aside some of the cooking water. Drain the pasta. 5 Toss the pasta with the sauce in a warm serving bowl, adding a little of the cooking water if needed. Add the cheese and toss again. Top with the eggplant slices and serve immediately. From "1,000 Italian Recipes." Copyright 2004 by Michele Scicolone. Used with permission of the publisher, Wiley Publishing, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

CAPONATA SICILIANA

Steps:

• Put pasta water on to boil.
• In a large saute pan stir-fry eggplant and garlic in 4 tablespoons olive oil, until tender and a little brown.
• Put pasta in boiling water.
• Remove eggplant mixture from pan and set aside. Saute onion and pepper in remaining oil for 5 minutes. Add eggplant mixture and all other ingredients to onion and pepper, cover and cook over low heat for about 7 minutes.
• Toss hot, drained al dente pasta together with eggplant sauce, garnish with a sprig of fresh basil (and the toasted pine nuts, if using), and serve with grated parmesan cheese. Add additional vinegar, if desired. Serve warm or at room temperature.
• Serves 4.
• *Note: I think I prefer this made with only 8 ounces of pasta.

SICILIAN PASTA WITH EGGPLANT

Steps:

• Peel garlic. Trim stem ends of eggplants. Halve eggplants lengthwise and cut crosswise into 1/2-inch-thick slices. In a large sieve drain tomatoes. Transfer tomatoes to a bowl and squeeze to break into smaller pieces.
• In a 6-quart kettle bring 5 quarts salted water to a boil for pasta.
• In a 12-inch heavy skillet heat 1 cup oil over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking. Fry eggplant in 2 batches, turning, until golden brown on both sides. Transfer eggplant as fried with a slotted spoon to paper towels to drain, arranging it in one layer. Season eggplant with salt and pepper.
• Pour off oil from skillet and wipe clean with paper towels. Add remaining 1/4 cup oil to skillet and cook garlic over low heat, stirring, until golden. Stir in tomatoes with any juices that have accumulated in bowl and simmer, stirring frequently, until slightly thickened, about 15 minutes. Season sauce with salt and pepper.
• While sauce is simmering, cook pasta until al dente. Reserve 1 cup pasta cooking water and drain pasta in a colander. Transfer half of tomato sauce with half of ricotta salata to a large bowl and toss with pasta and half of eggplant, adding some reserved pasta cooking water if sauce becomes too thick. Transfer pasta to a serving bowl and top with remaining sauce and eggplant and some of remaining cheese.
• Garnish pasta with basil and serve remaining cheese on the side.

SICILIAN SPAGHETTI

Steps:

• Cut eggplant in 3mm (1/8in) thick.
• Heat about 1/2 the oil in shallow pan, add a single layer of eggplant, cook over medium heat until eggplant is a light golden brown turn and brown other side.
• Remove from pan and place on absorbent paper to drain.
• Repeat with remaining eggplant.
• Add minced steak to pan, cook until browned.
• Add onion and garlic cook for a few moments.
• Add undrained tomatoes, oregano, tomato paste, season with salt& pepper.
• Simmer uncovered for about 20-30min or until liquid is reduced by about half.
• While minced steak in cooking, add spaghetti to a large saucepan of salted boiling water, cook until tender about 15min- when cooked drain spaghetti.
• Microwave Peas for 2 minutes.
• Mix together minced steak mixture with spaghetti, peas and grated cheeses using two forks- combine well.
• Grease a 23cm (9in) round cake tin (I used a springform round cake tin), sprinkle evenly with 1/2 the breadcrumbs Place large slices of eggplant in cente of tin, arrange overlapping slices over the base until covered and then continue up the sides of the tin.
• Use spoonfuls of the filling to support the slices as you work around the side of the tin.
• Spoon remaining filling into cake tin, pack down well.
• Arrange the remaining slices of eggplant, overlapping each slice to cover the top of the filling completely.
• Sprinkle with remaining breadcrumbs.
• Bake uncovered in a mderate over 25-30 minutes.
• Stand for 5 minutes turn onto a serving plate and sprinkle with chopped parsley.