Description
This Spicy Eggplant Pasta is a flavorful and satisfying vegetarian dish that combines tender eggplant with a spicy tomato sauce, tossed with your choice of pasta. Perfect for a cozy dinner any night of the week!
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta:
- 12 ounces pasta of choice (spaghetti or rigatoni work well)
Eggplant:
- 2 medium eggplants, cut into 1-inch cubes
Sauce:
- 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)
- 1 can (14 ounces) crushed tomatoes
- ½ cup vegetable broth or pasta cooking water
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ cup chopped fresh basil
- Grated Parmesan cheese for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Reserve ½ cup pasta cooking water, then drain.
- Cook the Eggplant: While pasta cooks, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add eggplant cubes and cook for 8–10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until golden and tender. Transfer eggplant to a plate.
- Prepare the Sauce: Reduce heat to medium, add remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil to the skillet, then sauté onion for 3–4 minutes until softened. Stir in garlic and red pepper flakes, cooking for 1 minute until fragrant. Add crushed tomatoes, vegetable broth or pasta water, oregano, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. Simmer for 10 minutes, then stir in cooked eggplant.
- Combine and Serve: Toss in pasta, adding more pasta water if needed to loosen the sauce. Stir in fresh basil, and serve hot with Parmesan if desired.
Notes
- For extra richness, stir in a tablespoon of butter at the end.
- This dish is also great with a handful of baby spinach stirred in just before serving.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Sautéing, Simmering
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: about 2 cups
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 9 g
- Sodium: 520 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 64 g
- Fiber: 8 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
