Grilled Eggplant And Garlic Pasta Recipes

PASTA WITH GRILLED EGGPLANT SAUCE

Steps:

• Slice the eggplants horizontally one-half-inch thick. Dust the slices with salt, place in a colander over a bowl and set aside for 30 minutes.
• Light a barbecue or an oven broiler.
• After 30 minutes rinse the salted eggplant in cold water and pat dry on paper towels. Brush the eggplant slices with four tablespoons of the olive oil and grill or broil them, turning them once, until they are lightly browned.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil for the pasta.
• While the water is coming to a boil, heat the remaining tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet. Add the onion and saute over medium heat until it turns golden, add the garlic and saute a few seconds longer. Chop the grilled eggplant and add it to the skillet. Remove from heat.
• Boil the pasta until it is al dente, about eight minutes. Drain it. Reheat the onion and eggplant mixture in the skillet and add the tomatoes. Mix. Add the pasta, mix again, fold in the basil and season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Serve at once with Parmesan cheese on the side.

SUMMER PASTA WITH GRILLED EGGPLANT SAUCE

Steps:

• Prepare a grill for high heat.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the lemon juice to the boiling water and cook the pasta according to the package directions for al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water, drain the pasta and return it to the pot; set aside.
• Pierce the eggplant a few times with a fork or knife. Place on the grill, cover and cook, turning every 8 to 10 minutes, until completely charred all over and the flesh is soft when pressed, 25 to 30 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl and let cool slightly for 10 minutes.
• While the eggplant cooks, prepare 2 sheets of foil, each 12-by-12-inches, and stack them together. Place the tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of black pepper in the center of the foil. Fold over 2 opposite sides of the foil then fold in the remaining sides to create a tight seal. When 15 minutes of cooking time remain for the eggplant, add the foil pack to the grill and cook until juices start to bubble out of the top (this means the tomatoes and garlic are sufficiently cooked without having to open the pack), 13 to 15 minutes.
• Remove the eggplant to a cutting board (keeping any juices that accumulated in the bowl) and squeeze gently to crack the skin and expose the flesh. Use a spoon to remove the flesh, transfer to the large bowl and mash lightly with the spoon or a potato masher (you should have about 1 cup of flesh); discard the skin. Stir in the ricotta and Pecorino Romano until smooth then pour into the pot with the pasta and mix until combined. Fold in the contents of the foil pack (including any juices that accumulated), the basil, parsley, lemon zest, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of black pepper; stir until combined, adding the reserved pasta water, 1 tablespoon at a time, to thin out the sauce if needed. Serve with more basil, parsley, Pecorino Romano and crushed red pepper flakes if using.

GRILLED RATATOUILLE PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Prepare a grill for medium heat. Toss zucchini, eggplant, and 1/4 cup oil on a rimmed baking sheet; season with 1 tsp. salt and 1/2 tsp. pepper. Grill, turning often, until steamy, tender, and charred all over, 8-12 minutes. Return to baking sheet and let cool.
• Cook pasta according to package directions.
• Slice grilled vegetables into bite-size pieces and transfer to a large bowl. Add tomato, cheese, vinegar, thyme, and 1 1/2 tsp. salt, 1/2 tsp. pepper, and 1/2 cup oil and mix to combine. Drain pasta and immediately add to bowl with vegetables. Mix well to combine, then top with basil.
• Do Ahead: Vegetables can be grilled 3 days ahead. Transfer (whole) to an airtight container and chill.

GRILLED EGGPLANT WITH GARLIC AND SOY

Steps:

• Start a grill or preheat broiler. Combine the vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, chilies, salt, pepper and sugar, if using, in a large nonreactive bowl and set aside.
• Slice globe eggplants into 3/4-inch rounds or cut Japanese eggplants in half lengthwise. Marinate the eggplant in the sauce for 20 to 30 minutes.
• Remove the eggplant and reserve the sauce. Brush both sides of the slices with oil. Grill or broil until nicely browned and tender, about 5 minutes a side. (Do this in 2 batches if necessary to keep from crowding eggplant.) Remove to a platter and pour the reserved sauce over the eggplant. Serve immediately.

HERB AND GARLIC GRILLED EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE)

Steps:

• Marinating the Eggplant:.
• Lightly brush both sides of each eggplant slice with oil. Blend together the garlic, parsley, basil and pepper. Spread a little of the herb blend over each slice. Lay the slice side by side on a large platter, stacking them if necessary. Lightly cover with plastic wrap and let stand at room temperature 2 to 4 hours.
• Cooking Eggplant on an Outdoor Grill:
• Burn down a charcoal fire (using real wood charcoal briquets if possible), until a white ash has formed on the briquets. Heat should be moderate. Sprinkle the slices with salt. Grill the undrained eggplant slices about 10 minutes, turning once, or until deep golden brown on each side and soft when pierced with a knife. Spoon any seasonings left on the platter over each slice after turning. Transfer the finished slices to a platter and serve.
• Cooking Eggplant Inside:.
• Grill undrained slices over medium heat on a gridded skillet or stove-top grill, until deep, golden brown on each side.
• Spread any seasonings left on the platter over each slice before turning. Do this in several batches unless your cooking surface is large enough to hold all the slices in a single layer. Or you may preheat broiler, placing eggplant about 4" from the flame. Spread any leftover marinade over the slices, and have them in a single layer. Broil slowly until slices are deep golden brown on each side, and eggplant is soft when pierced.
• Serve as a first course or main dish after topping the warm slices with long furls of Parmigiano-Reggiano or sheep cheese carved with a vegetable peeler. Enjoy!

GRILLED EGGPLANT WITH LEMON-GARLIC DRESSING

Steps:

• Sprinkle eggplant slices with salt. Let drain in colander 30 minutes. Rinse and pat dry.
• Prepare Lemon-Garlic Dressing.
• Brush both sides of eggplant with oil.
• Cover and grill eggplant 4 to 6 inches from medium coals 8 to 10 minutes, turning once, until tender.
• Pour dressing over hot eggplant.
• Sprinkle with parsley.
• LEMON-GARLIC DRESSING.
• Cook garlic in oil in 8 inch skillet, stirring frequently, until golden brown; remove from heat.
• Carefully stir in lemon juice.