Tomato Aubergine Pasta Food

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.

PASTA WITH AUBERGINE & TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• Peel and finely chop the onion and garlic. Pick the basil leaves and finely chop the stalks. Trim and cut the aubergine into 2cm slices.
• Heat 3 tablespoons of oil in a pan and sweat the onion, garlic and basil stalks for 7 minutes.
• Add the tomatoes, season well and bring to a steady simmer. Cook for about 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, fry the aubergine in the remaining oil until golden, then stir into the tomato sauce with most of the basil leaves.
• Cook the pasta according to the packet instructions, drain, then stir through the sauce.
• Divide between plates and crumble over some ricotta and scatter over the reserved basil leaves before serving.

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.

ROASTED EGGPLANT AND TOMATO PASTA

Steps:

• Heat oven to 450 degrees. Spread out eggplant cubes and peppers on a rimmed baking sheet. Toss with 3 tablespoons oil and season well with salt. Roast, turning everything, until eggplant and peppers are very soft and deeply golden brown, 30 to 40 minutes.
• Meanwhile, cook pasta in well-salted boiling water until about 1 minute shy of al dente. Drain.
• Using the large holes of a box grater, grate tomatoes over a large skillet so the pulp falls into the skillet. To do this, hold on to the curved side of the tomato in your hand and slide the cut, flat side across the holes. Stop grating just before you reach the skin.
• Add the garlic, red pepper flakes and 1 tablespoon olive oil to the pan with the tomatoes and bring to a simmer. Simmer until tomato pulp is reduced by half, then season to taste with salt.
• Add the pasta, capers and butter, if using, to the pan with the tomatoes and bring to a simmer, tossing until butter melts and pasta finishes cooking, about 1 minute. Turn off the heat and toss in eggplant and cheese, if using.
• Serve pasta drizzled with a little more oil and the herbs.

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.

CHEESY AUBERGINE & TOMATO SPAGHETTI

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6 and drizzle 1 tsp oil over a non-stick baking tray. Press the aubergine into the oil, turn and bake for 10 mins. Mix the cheese with the hazelnuts. Turn the aubergine, top with the sage leaves and cheese mix and bake for 10-12 mins until tender.
• Meanwhile, heat the remaining oil in a non-stick frying pan and fry the garlic, carrot, celery and chopped sage for 5 mins, stirring, until just soft. Add the olives, tomato purée, bouillon powder and 200ml water, cover and cook for 5 mins more.
• Cook the spaghetti following pack instructions, then drain, reserving some of the cooking water. Toss with the cooked veg, tomatoes and most of the parsley, loosening with some of the reserved water if needed. Top with the aubergine and remaining parsley.