Eggplant Mushroom Pasta Toss Recipes

EGGPLANT AND MUSHROOM RIGATONI

Steps:

• In a large deep saute pan, heat the olive oil over medium high heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
• Add eggplant and mushrooms. Cook for 10-14 minutes, occasionally stirring.
• Season with salt and pepper.
• Add the tomato pasta and stir. Cook for one minute.
• Add the oregano and red pepper flakes. Stir and cook for 30 seconds.
• Deglaze the pan with the red wine; cook until most of the wine has been absorbed.
• Add the balsamic vinegar and tomatoes. Use the back of a spoon the break apart the tomatoes. Bring to a boil then reduce heat to low. Cover and cook for 20 minutes.
• While the sauce is cooking, make the pasta. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Salt the water.
• Cook the pasta according to package direction.
• Before draining the pasta, reserve 1/2 cup of the cooking liquid. Set aside.
• Drain the pasta and add it to the tomato sauce. Pour in the reserved cooking liquid. Gently toss to combine.
• Taste and add more salt or pepper if needed.
• Serve with fresh herbs.

EGGPLANT AND WILD MUSHROOM PASTA WITH RICOTTA SALATA

Steps:

• Combine the porcinis and chicken stock in a small pot and bring up to a boil. Reduce the heat to lowest setting and let the mushrooms soften and steep for 10 to 15 minutes, until very tender.
• Place a pot of water on the stove to boil for the pasta. When it boils, salt the water to season it. Cut a small x into the bottom of the tomatoes and plunge them into the boiling pasta water for 30 seconds, then remove to a cutting board to cool. Add the cavatappi to the water and cook to al dente, or with a bite to it.
• While the porcinis and pasta cook, trim half of the skin from the eggplant.
• Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Cut the eggplant into 1- by 1/2-inch bite-size pieces. Add the EVOO to the pan, followed by the garlic and eggplant. Turn and toss the eggplant and season it with salt and pepper. Let it brown lightly at edges, about 5 minutes, then reduce heat to medium low and continue to cook.
• Pull the skins off the cooled tomatoes and cut them in half. Seed the tomatoes by gently squeezing them over the sink or a garbage bowl. Dice the tomatoes and add them to the cooking eggplant. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.
• Remove the tender porcinis from the cooking broth and coarsely chop them. Add the broth and chopped mushrooms to the eggplant and tomatoes. Drain the pasta well and add the hot pasta to the pan. Toss to combine and coat and give the pasta a minute to soak in some juice. Add the ricotta salata and the basil; turn to wilt the basil, check the seasoning one last time, and serve.
• Options
• If your market has no ricotta salata (ricotta cheese that's been dried out a little), then use the same amount of feta but go easy on the salt you use in your preparation until your final adjustment because feta is saltier than ricotta salata. Tangy young goat cheese is an option, too. If you use goat cheese, toss and serve the dish without adding the goat cheese directly to the pan. Instead, garnish the individual plates with some crumbles, 2 ounces per portion. Goat cheese is too delicate to mix in as you would the feta or ricotta salata.