Eggplant Pasta With Breadcrumbs Recipes

EGGPLANT PASTA

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat; cook and stir garlic until fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes. Add eggplant; cook, stirring constantly, until eggplant is softened, about 5 minutes. Add tomatoes and juice; cook until sauce is slightly reduced, about 20 minutes.
• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook rigatoni in the boiling water, stirring occasionally until cooked through but firm to the bite, about 13 minutes. Drain and transfer to a serving bowl.
• Pour sauce over pasta.

ROASTED EGGPLANT WITH PECAN BREADCRUMBS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Trim the ends from the eggplants and slice them in half lengthwise. Sprinkle with salt and brush with the oil. Place the eggplants on the prepared baking sheets and roast for 35 minutes, or until soft and completely tender.
• While the eggplants roast, heat a large dry sauté pan over medium-high heat. Add the cumin and toast, stirring, for 3 minutes, or until its aromatics are released. Stir in the butter and add the mushrooms. Sprinkle with salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until the mushrooms soften and release some liquid, about 5 minutes. Stir in the tomatoes, season with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally, for an additional 3 minutes.
• Transfer the mixture to a large bowl and gently fold in the millet, mint, cilantro, and lemon zest and set aside.
• Remove the roasted eggplant from the oven and let it cool down enough to handle. Take 4 halves of the eggplant and dice into medium cubes, including the skin. Scoop out the flesh of the other 4 halves and dice it (reserve the skins). Combine the chopped eggplant with the mushroom and tomato mixture.
• Place the 4 scooped-out eggplant shells back on the baking sheet and stuff with the filling. Top with the breadcrumbs and return to the oven. Roast for 5 to 10 minutes, until the breadcrumbs brown slightly. Grind pepper over the eggplant. Drizzle with chile oil, if desired. Serve.
• Melt the butter in a 2-quart saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the panko, lower the heat and cook, stirring constantly, until the breadcrumbs begin to turn golden brown , about 3 minutes. Add the pecans and continue to cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture has a nutty fragrance, about 2 minutes. Season with salt and remove from the heat. Makes 3/4 cup.

EGGPLANT AND PASTA INCACIATA

Steps:

• For the red sauce: Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan. Add the garlic and onions and saute until tender, 5 minutes. Add the tomatoes, red pepper flakes and some salt and black pepper and simmer for 20 minutes. Stir the basil leaves into the sauce at the end of simmering, if using.
• For the eggplant and pasta incaciata: Grease the bottom and insides of the springform pan with softened butter. Mix 1/4 cup of the breadcrumbs with 2 tablespoons of the Parmigiano cheese. Coat the inside of the pan well with the cheese mixture. Knock out any excess and discard.
• Heat 3 tablespoons of the oil in a large saute pan over medium heat. Add the ground pork and sprinkle with salt and black pepper and saute until cooked through. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant. Stir in the red wine and simmer until reduced by half, about 5 minutes. Add 4 cups of the red sauce and bring back to a simmer. Cook for another 5 minutes and season with salt and black pepper. Reserve the remaining red sauce for another use.
• Meanwhile, slice the eggplants lengthwise into 1/4-inch-thick planks. Heat 3 tablespoons oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sprinkle the eggplant with salt and black pepper and fry in a single layer, working in batches, until golden brown, about 3 minutes per side. Repeat with the remaining eggplant, using 3 tablespoons of oil per batch. Remove from the oil and drain on a paper-towel-lined baking sheet.
• Combine the cooked pasta with the mozzarella and ragu in a large bowl.
• To assemble, line the bottom of the prepared springform pan with a single layer of eggplant, then line the sides with the eggplant planks vertically, allowing the excess to hang over the outside. Fill the inside of the lined pan with the pasta mixture, pressing down gently. Fold the flaps of eggplant over the top of the pasta, using any remaining eggplant slices to cover the top. Cover with plastic and weigh it down with a plate. Refrigerate for a few hours and up to overnight.
• When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Sprinkle the top with the remaining Parmigiano and breadcrumbs. Cover the top loosely with foil, place on a baking sheet and bake for 30 minutes. Remove the foil and bake until bubbling and the top is golden brown, an additional 15 minutes. Let rest for 15 to 20 minutes and cool slightly before unmolding from the pan. Slice and serve.