**Baked Rigatoni with Roasted Eggplant and Tomato: A Delightful Medley of Flavors**
Indulge in a culinary journey with our tantalizing baked rigatoni recipe, where tender rigatoni pasta harmonizes with roasted eggplant, juicy tomatoes, and a symphony of herbs and spices. This delectable dish tantalizes taste buds with a medley of textures and flavors, making it a star of any dinner table. Discover the secrets behind this flavor-packed recipe, along with variations and tips to elevate your culinary experience. Explore alternative pasta choices, savor the goodness of vegan and gluten-free options, and uncover the art of roasting eggplants to perfection. With step-by-step instructions and a treasure trove of culinary insights, this comprehensive guide will transform you into a master chef, ready to impress family and friends with this irresistible baked rigatoni extravaganza.
RIGATONI WITH EGGPLANT PUREE
Provided by Giada De Laurentiis
Categories main-dish
Time 55m
Yield 4 to 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl combine the eggplant, cherry tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, salt, pepper, and red
- pepper flakes. Spread the vegetables out in an even layer on the baking sheet. Roast in the oven until the vegetables are tender and the eggplant is golden, about 35 minutes.
- While the vegetables are roasting, place the pine nuts in a small baking dish. Place in the oven on the rack below the vegetables. Roast until golden, about 8 minutes. Remove from the oven and reserve.
- Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain pasta into a large bowl and reserve 1 1/2 cups of the cooking liquid.
- Transfer the roasted vegetables to a food processor. Add the torn mint leaves and extra-virgin olive oil. Puree the vegetables.
- Transfer the pureed vegetables to the bowl with the pasta and add the Parmesan. Stir to combine, adding the pasta cooking liquid 1/2 cup at a time until the pasta is saucy. Sprinkle the pine nuts over the top and serve.
BAKED PASTA WITH TOMATOES AND EGGPLANT
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F. (Make sure your oven is clean!) Place three (6-inch) gratin dishes on a sheet pan and set aside.
- Boil a large pot of water, add a tablespoon of salt, and add the pasta. If you're using one type of pasta, cook it for 1 to 2 minutes less than the directions on the package. If you're using two kinds of pasta, start with the one that cooks longest and add the second later so they finish at the same time. You want the pasta to be quite al dente. Drain.
- Pour the Tomato and Eggplant Soup into a large bowl, add the cooked pasta, the mozzarella, 2 tablespoons of the Parmesan, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, and 3/4 teaspoon pepper and toss well. Divide the mixture evenly among the three gratin dishes, dot the tops with the butter, and bake for 10 minutes, until hot and bubbly and the pasta begins to brown. Sprinkle each dish with 1 tablespoon of the remaining Parmesan, bake for another 4 minutes, and serve hot.
- Heat 1/2 cup olive oil in a medium (10 to 11-inch) pot or Dutch oven, such as Le Creuset, over medium heat. Add the eggplant and saute for 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until tender. Add a little more olive oil if the eggplant is sticking.
- Add 2 tablespoons olive oil to the pot, add the onions and fennel, and cook for 6 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onion is tender but not browned. Add the garlic and cook for one minute, stirring often. Add the chicken stock, crushed tomatoes, fennel seeds, oregano, thyme, red pepper flakes, 1 tablespoon salt, and 2 teaspoons black pepper. Pour the can of whole tomatoes, including the liquid, into a food processor and pulse until the tomatoes are coarsely chopped. Add the tomatoes and the liquid to the pot. Bring to a boil, lower the heat, and simmer uncovered for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Taste for seasonings. Serve hot in large bowls sprinkled with Parmesan cheese and a drizzle of olive oil.
EGGPLANT, TOMATO AND MOZZARELLA PASTA BAKE
Provided by Katie Lee Biegel
Categories main-dish
Time 1h25m
Yield to 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Season aggressively with salt. Add the rigatoni and cook 3 minutes less than the package directions. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water and drain.
- Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 400 degrees F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Toss the eggplant and tomatoes with 3 tablespoons olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Spread on the baking sheet and roast until the eggplant is golden brown and tomatoes are tender, 25 to 30 minutes. (Leave the oven on.)
- Toss the rigatoni with the eggplant, tomatoes, about 1/4 cup pasta water and the marinara sauce in a large bowl. If it looks dry, add the remaining pasta water. Stir in 1 cup mozzarella.
- Spray a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with nonstick spray. Transfer the pasta to the baking dish and top with the remaining cup mozzarella and the Parmesan and drizzle with the remaining tablespoon olive oil. Bake until the cheese is melted and golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes. (Turn the broiler on at the end if you want the cheese to brown more.) Garnish with additional Parmesan and the chopped basil and serve.
CHEESY EGGPLANT AND RIGATONI BAKE
Put on your cozy pants and get comfortable with a giant bowl of this cheesy, eggplant-studded pasta. Don't be shy about adding plenty of reserved pasta cooking water to the sauce; it's the magical ingredient that creates a silky sauce and keeps the pasta moist while baking. A little grated ricotta salata to finish adds a slight tangy bite that rounds everything out - but, truthfully, more Parmesan or any firm, salted cheese will do.
Provided by Sue Li
Categories dinner, pastas, main course
Time 1h15m
Yield 8 servings
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Heat oven to 375 degrees. Cook rigatoni according to package instructions but keep it slightly more al dente. Reserve 1 1/2 cups pasta cooking water, then drain and rinse pasta under cold water, and transfer to a large bowl while you cook the eggplant.
- Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large, oven-proof skillet over medium. Add half the eggplant, season with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring, until golden brown on all sides, 9 to 10 minutes. Transfer to the bowl with the rigatoni. Repeat with 2 tablespoons olive oil and remaining eggplant and transfer to the bowl.
- Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil in the skillet over medium. Add onion and garlic and cook, stirring, until translucent, 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in red-pepper flakes and season with salt and pepper. Add tomatoes and their juices, crushing the tomatoes with your hands as you add them. Cook until the tomatoes are very soft, about 5 minutes. Stir in the reserved pasta cooking water, adding up to 1 1/2 cups as needed to create a silky sauce.
- If the skillet is large enough, add the rigatoni and eggplant mixture, Parmesan, 1 cup mozzarella and 1 cup basil and toss to coat. Otherwise, add the tomato sauce, Parmesan, 1 cup mozzarella and 1 cup basil to the large bowl with the rigatoni and eggplant, toss to coat and then return to the skillet or transfer to a greased baking dish.
- Top with remaining 3 cups mozzarella and bake until the sauce is bubbling on the sides and the cheese is melted, about 25 minutes. Top with grated ricotta salata and torn fresh basil to serve.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 557, UnsaturatedFat 14 grams, Carbohydrate 57 grams, Fat 26 grams, Fiber 8 grams, Protein 25 grams, SaturatedFat 10 grams, Sodium 880 milligrams, Sugar 10 grams
BAKED RIGATONI WITH EGGPLANT AND SAUSAGE
Provided by Tyler Florence
Categories main-dish
Time 1h15m
Yield 6 to 8 servings
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat for the pasta. Get yourself a 9 by 13-inch glass or ceramic baking dish.
- Heat a 2 count of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the sausages and toss in the hot oil for 3 to 4 minutes, you want them nicely browned on the outside but still rare on the inside. Put the sausages in the baking dish.
- Turn the heat down to medium. Add a generous 1/3 cup of oil to the skillet and get it hot. Add as many eggplant pieces as you can comfortably fit in a single layer and sprinkle well with salt. Cook, turning, for 7 to 8 minutes, until the eggplant is nice and browned, crisp on the outside and soft on the inside. Use a spatula to put the eggplant into the baking dish with the sausage. Cook the rest of the eggplant pieces, adding more oil to the pan, as needed, and putting the finished eggplant into the baking dish.
- Add another 2 count of oil to the skillet, then your onion and garlic, and cook for 3 to 4 minutes, until translucent. Dump the whole can of tomatoes and their juices into a bowl and crush the tomatoes with your hands to break them up; add that to the pan with the basil and cook it down until pulpy and relatively thick. This will take about 15 minutes.
- By this time your pasta water will be boiling. Add the rigatoni, give it a stir, and cook for 6 to 7 minutes, it should be slightly firm as it will cook further in the oven. Ladle out 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water and reserve; the drain the rigatoni.
- Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Chop the sausages into nice big, bite-size chunky pieces and return the pieces to the baking dish. Add the tomato sauce, rigatoni, and the reserved pasta water. Break up half the mozzarella over the mixture, season with salt and pepper, and gently mix with your hands or a spatula. Dust with the Parmigiano and drizzle with more olive oil. Bake for 15 minutes. Spread the remaining mozzarella in an even layer over the top and continue to bake for another 10 minutes or until golden brown and bubbly.
RIGATONI WITH ROASTED CHERRY TOMATOES AND BURRATA
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Time 30m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Toss the tomatoes with 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper in a large bowl. Spread the tomatoes on a rimmed baking sheet and roast until softened, about 20 minutes. Return to the bowl and stir with a wooden spoon to break up the tomatoes and make a chunky sauce.
- Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook as the label directs. Reserve 1/2 cup cooking water, then drain.
- While the pasta is cooking, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil in a small skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until lightly golden, about 3 minutes; add to the bowl with the tomatoes.
- Add the pasta to the tomato mixture and toss, adding enough of the reserved pasta cooking water to loosen the sauce. Stir in the oregano and season with salt and pepper. Top each serving with the burrata, basil, a drizzle of olive oil and a few grinds of pepper.
- Cook's Note: Burrata is fresh mozzarella that's filled with cream and curds, so it oozes when cut. If you can't find it, top your pasta with ricotta instead.
BAKED RIGATONI
You can bet the pasta was homemade when my aunt made this rigatoni recipe. You don't have to make your own pasta, of course, especially if you want the preparation to go a lot quicker. -Esther Perea, Van Nuys, California
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 1h5m
Yield 10 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 21
Steps:
- In a large skillet, saute onion and green pepper in oil until tender. Add the tomatoes, sauce, paste, water, mushrooms, parsley, garlic and seasonings. Simmer, uncovered, for 30 minutes. Discard bay leaf. , Meanwhile, cook pasta according to package directions; drain and toss with butter. In a small bowl, combine the eggs, ricotta and Parmesan cheese. Stir into rigatoni mixture. Transfer to a 3-qt. baking dish; top with tomato mixture., Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 30-40 minutes or until heated through. Sprinkle with additional Parmesan cheese.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 356 calories, Fat 12g fat (6g saturated fat), Cholesterol 69mg cholesterol, Sodium 835mg sodium, Carbohydrate 47g carbohydrate (11g sugars, Fiber 4g fiber), Protein 16g protein.
RIGATONI WITH EGGPLANT, PEPPERS, AND TOMATOES
I had an Italian friend who cooked this recipe for me, and I'd like to share it with you as it is so goooood. Serve with feta or Parmesan cheese if you desire.
Provided by Ed's
Categories World Cuisine Recipes European Italian
Time 1h
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the diced eggplant in the hot oil, stirring frequently, until lightly browned, about 10 minutes. Stir in the red pepper and garlic; season with salt and pepper. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and cook until the vegetables are tender, about 20 minutes.
- Meanwhile, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Stir in the chopped tomatoes, and bring to a simmer; season with fresh thyme, salt, and pepper. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until the tomatoes have reduced slightly, about 15 minutes.
- bring a large pot of lightly-salted water to a boil; stir in the rigatoni and cook uncovered, stirring occasionally, until tender but still firm to the bite, about 13 minutes. Drain and return to the pot.
- Stir the eggplant mixture into the pasta along with the basil and olives. Spoon the tomato sauce overtop to serve.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 400.1 calories, Carbohydrate 65.4 g, Fat 9.9 g, Fiber 5.6 g, Protein 12.4 g, SaturatedFat 1.4 g, Sodium 96.4 mg, Sugar 5.1 g
Tips:
- Choose eggplant variety carefully: Opt for slender varieties like Italian eggplant (also called baby eggplant) that have fewer seeds and a sweeter flavor compared to larger varieties.
- Roast eggplant until soft: Look for tender and slightly charred edges to ensure the eggplant is cooked thoroughly and has developed its full flavor.
- Salt eggplant to reduce bitterness: Before cooking, sprinkle eggplant slices generously with salt and let them rest for about 30 minutes. This draws out excess moisture and reduces bitterness.
- Use a rich and flavorful tomato sauce: Opt for a homemade sauce or a high-quality store-bought sauce that has a robust and tangy flavor.
- Cook rigatoni al dente: Slightly undercook the pasta so it retains a slight bite and doesn't become mushy when baked.
- Don't overmix sauce: After combining the roasted eggplant, tomato sauce, and cooked rigatoni, mix gently to avoid breaking the eggplant slices.
- Top with cheese before baking: Adding a layer of grated Parmesan or a blend of Parmesan and mozzarella cheese adds a golden crust and extra flavor to the baked rigatoni.
- Bake until bubbly and golden: Keep an eye on the baking rigatoni and remove it from the oven when the cheese is melted, bubbly, and lightly golden brown.
Conclusion:
Baked rigatoni with roasted eggplant and tomato is a delicious and satisfying pasta dish that combines flavors and textures. By following the provided tips, you can create a flavorful and visually appealing dish that is perfect for any occasion. Whether you're a seasoned cook or a beginner, this recipe provides a step-by-step guide to help you create a memorable meal that will delight your palate. From the tender roasted eggplant and tangy tomato sauce to the al dente pasta and melted cheese, every bite of this dish offers a symphony of flavors and textures. So gather your ingredients, preheat your oven, and embark on a culinary journey that will leave you craving for more.
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