Eggplant Pasta Recipe
Introduction
This easy eggplant pasta recipe combines tender eggplant with garlic, basil, olive oil and flavorful sun-dried tomatoes. Finished with Romano and Parmesan cheese, this Italian eggplant pasta is a simple and delicious meal that brings together classic Mediterranean ingredients.
Whether you are looking for pasta with eggplant, an eggplant tomato pasta, or a flavorful vegetarian pasta dish, this recipe is easy to customize and prepare with your preferred amount of each ingredient.
Watch the Video
How to Make Eggplant Pasta | Easy Italian Pasta Recipe | Vito’s Italian Cucina
This video shows how to prepare the eggplant, combine it with pasta, garlic, basil and tomatoes, and finish the dish with Romano and Parmesan cheese.
What Is Eggplant Pasta?
Eggplant pasta is a dish that combines cooked eggplant with pasta and other flavorful ingredients such as tomatoes, garlic, olive oil and herbs. There are many different ways to make Italian pasta with eggplant, depending on the region and ingredients used.
This version combines chopped eggplant with garlic, basil, olive oil, butter and sun-dried tomatoes. The cooked pasta is tossed with the vegetables and finished with Romano and Parmesan cheese.
In Italian, eggplant is known as melanzane, which is why you may also see dishes described as pasta melanzane or melanzane pasta.
Ingredients for Eggplant Pasta Recipe
- Eggplant chopped into small pieces
- Whole wheat pasta
- Sun-dried tomatoes
- Garlic
- Fresh basil
- Olive oil
- Butter
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Romano cheese
- Parmesan cheese
How to Make Eggplant Pasta
Prepare the Eggplant
Wash the eggplant and cut it into small bite-sized pieces. Cutting the eggplant into smaller pieces helps it cook evenly and makes it easier to combine with the pasta.
Cook the Garlic and Eggplant
Heat olive oil and butter in a pan. Add the garlic and allow it to cook gently before adding the chopped eggplant.
Cook the eggplant while stirring until it begins to soften and absorb the flavors of the garlic and oil.
Add the Tomatoes and Basil
Add the sun-dried tomatoes and fresh basil to the pan. Season with salt and black pepper according to your taste.
These ingredients add rich flavor to the eggplant pasta with basil and tomatoes.
Cook the Pasta
Cook the whole wheat pasta according to the package directions. Drain the pasta once it is cooked.
You can use your preferred type of pasta for this Italian eggplant pasta, depending on what you have available.
Combine the Pasta and Eggplant
Add the cooked pasta to the pan with the eggplant mixture. Toss everything together until the pasta is coated with the garlic, olive oil, basil and tomato mixture.
This creates a simple and flavorful pasta with eggplant and tomatoes.
Add Romano Cheese
Sprinkle Romano cheese over the pasta and eggplant mixture. Toss gently to distribute the cheese throughout the dish.
Finish and Serve
Transfer the eggplant pasta to a serving bowl. Finish with additional Parmesan cheese, a few pieces of sun-dried tomato and fresh basil.
Serve warm and enjoy.
What Does Eggplant Pasta Taste Like?
This easy eggplant pasta has a rich and savory flavor from the combination of tender eggplant, garlic, olive oil and cheese.
The sun-dried tomatoes add a concentrated tomato flavor, while fresh basil adds a fresh and aromatic finish. Romano and Parmesan cheese bring a salty, savory flavor that complements the vegetables and pasta.
The result is a flavorful garlic eggplant pasta with a combination of fresh and rich Italian-inspired ingredients.
Tips for Making the Best Eggplant Pasta
- Cut the eggplant into evenly sized pieces so it cooks consistently.
- Cook the eggplant until it becomes tender.
- Use fresh garlic and basil for the best flavor.
- Add salt carefully, especially because Romano and Parmesan cheese are naturally salty.
- Toss the pasta thoroughly with the eggplant mixture.
- Add cheese gradually according to your preference.
- Garnish with fresh basil before serving.
- Adjust the amount of olive oil, butter and tomatoes to your taste.
What Pasta Goes Well With Eggplant?
This recipe uses whole wheat pasta, but different pasta shapes can work well with eggplant.
Good options include:
Choose a pasta shape that can hold the olive oil, garlic and tomato mixture well.
What to Serve With Eggplant Pasta
This Italian eggplant recipe can be served as a complete vegetarian meal or paired with other Italian-inspired dishes.
Consider serving it with:
- Easy salmon recipe
- Tri tip and potato
- Spinach and beef lasagna
- Delicious Sweet And Juicy Strawberry Treat
- Meatball mountain with mostaccioli
Add internal links to relevant recipes from Vito’s Italian Cucina where available.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you cook eggplant for pasta?
To cook eggplant for pasta, cut it into small pieces and cook it in a pan with olive oil and other ingredients such as garlic. Stir the eggplant regularly and cook until it becomes tender before combining it with the pasta.
How do you prepare eggplant for pasta?
Wash the eggplant and cut it into evenly sized pieces. Smaller pieces cook more quickly and are easier to combine throughout the pasta dish.
For this recipe, the eggplant is chopped into small pieces before cooking with garlic, olive oil and butter.
How do you cook eggplant with pasta?
Cook the eggplant separately with ingredients such as garlic, olive oil, basil and tomatoes. Once the eggplant becomes tender, add the cooked pasta and toss everything together.
This allows the pasta to absorb the flavors of the eggplant mixture.
How do you make eggplant pasta?
To make an eggplant pasta recipe, cook chopped eggplant with garlic, olive oil and your preferred seasonings. Add tomatoes and basil, then toss the mixture with cooked pasta and finish with cheese.
How do you add eggplant to pasta?
The easiest way to add eggplant to pasta is to chop it into small pieces and cook it until tender before mixing it with cooked pasta.
Eggplant works especially well with garlic, tomatoes, basil, olive oil and Italian cheeses.
What is Pasta alla Norma?
Pasta alla Norma is a traditional Sicilian pasta dish made with eggplant, tomato sauce and cheese, often ricotta salata. This eggplant pasta recipe is not presented as Pasta alla Norma, but it also uses eggplant and Italian-inspired ingredients to create a flavorful pasta dish.