Pasta Alla Norma

Pasta Alla Norma

Ingredients:

  • 800g eggplant (cubed)
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • ½ tsp salt & pepper
  • 300g pasta of your choice

Pasta Sauce:

  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 garlic cloves, chopped
  • ½ small onion, chopped
  • ¼ cup vegetable stock
  • 7.5ml red wine vinegar
  • 700g tomato puree
  • ¼ cup water
  • 1 tsp dried italian herbs
  • ½ tsp chilli flakes (optional)
  • ½ tsp salt and pepper
  • fresh basil & parmesan for garnishing

Instructions:

Roasted Eggplant:

  • Preheat the oven to 240°C, line a tray with baking paper.
  • Toss eggplant with oil, salt and pepper. Spread on the tray and roast for 20 minutes.
  • Flip, then roast for a further 5 minutes. Cool on tray.

Cooking Pasta:

  • Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Add pasta and cook until al dente or to your liking (Start cooking the pasta a couple minutes after you start making the sauce)

Sauce:

  • Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chopped garlic and cook until golden brown, then add chopped onions and cook for 2-3 minutes until translucent and cooked through.
  • Increase heat to medium-high, add stock and vinegar. Let it simmer, scraping the base of the pan to deglaze, until mostly evaporated.
  • Add tomato puree. Pour the water into the puree bottle, shake and pour that in too (waste nothing).
  • Add herbs, chilli, salt and pepper. Stir and simmer for 5 minutes.
  • Stir in roasted eggplant, then add cooked and drained pasta.
  • Gently toss until pasta is coated in sauce.
  • Serve immediately, garnished with fresh basil and grated parmesan.