Recipe adapted from Hilltop Recipes.
Ingredients:
- 8 oz. short pasta, like rigatoni, rotini, or penne, reserve 1/2 c. pasta water
- 2 medium eggplants, peeled (optional), cut into 2/3 inch cubes
- 2 TBSP olive oil + 1 1/2 TBSP for eggplant
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 2 garlic coves, minced
- 1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes, or more to taste
- 28 oz. can whole peeled tomatoes, crushed
- 1 c. water
- 3/4 tsp. salt
- 1 1/2 tsp. dried oregano
- 1 handful of basil, chopped + more for serving
- 1 block of feta, grated or crumbled or use mozzarella pearls
Directions:
- Roast the Eggplant: Preheat oven or air fryer to 400°F . Peel (optional) and cube 2 medium eggplants, toss with 1 1/2 TBSP olive oil and salt, and roast until golden and tender — about 30 min in the oven or 20 in the air fryer.
- Make the Sauce: Heat a large sauce pan over medium heat; then sauté onion in 2 TBSP olive oil for 3 min, then add cloves garlic and red pepper flakes for 1 min. Add tomatoes, crushing them as you add to the pan, water, salt, pepper, and dried oregano. Simmer uncovered for 20 min, breaking up the tomatoes.
- Combine Eggplant and Basil: Stir roasted eggplant and 1 handful basil leaves into the sauce. Simmer 5 more minutes and adjust seasoning.
- Cook Pasta & Toss: Boil pasta in salted water until al dente. Reserve 1 c. pasta water. Toss pasta with sauce and ½ c. pasta water, if needed, adding more as needed.
- Serve: Top with olive oil, fresh basil, and 1 block feta — grated or crumbled on top or use mozzarella balls.
Greek Eggplant Pasta
Ingredients
8 oz. short pasta, like rigatoni, rotini, or penne, reserve 1/2 c. pasta water
2 medium eggplants, peeled (optional), cut into 2/3 inch cubes
2 TBSP olive oil + 1 1/2 TBSP for eggplant
1 onion, finely chopped
2 garlic coves, minced
1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes, or more to taste
28 oz. can whole peeled tomatoes, crushed
1 c. water
3/4 tsp. salt
1 1/2 tsp. dried oregano
1 handful of basil, chopped + more for serving
1 block of feta, grated or crumbled or use mozzarella pearls
Directions
- Roast the Eggplant: Preheat oven or air fryer to 400°F . Peel (optional) and cube 2 medium eggplants, toss with 1 1/2 TBSP olive oil and salt, and roast until golden and tender — about 30 min in the oven or 20 in the air fryer.
- Make the Sauce: Heat a large sauce pan over medium heat; then sauté onion in 2 TBSP olive oil for 3 min, then add cloves garlic and red pepper flakes for 1 min. Add tomatoes, crushing them as you add to the pan, water, salt, pepper, and dried oregano. Simmer uncovered for 20 min, breaking up the tomatoes.
- Combine Eggplant and Basil: Stir roasted eggplant and 1 handful basil leaves into the sauce. Simmer 5 more minutes and adjust seasoning.
- Cook Pasta & Toss: Boil pasta in salted water until al dente. Reserve 1 c. pasta water. Toss pasta with sauce and ½ c. pasta water, if needed, adding more as needed.
- Serve: Top with olive oil, fresh basil, and 1 block feta — grated or crumbled on top or use mozzarella balls.