Indulge in a delightful culinary journey with our exquisite pasta salad featuring roasted eggplant and a trio of tantalizing sauces. This vibrant dish is a harmonious blend of flavors and textures, offering a symphony of tastes in every bite. The roasted eggplant, with its smoky and slightly sweet notes, takes center stage, while the vibrant cherry tomatoes, crisp red onion, and fresh parsley add pops of color and freshness. Three delectable sauces - a zesty lemon-tahini dressing, a creamy avocado-yogurt sauce, and a tangy roasted red pepper sauce - provide a range of flavors to suit every palate. Whether you prefer a tangy, creamy, or smoky kick, this pasta salad has it all.
This recipe is not only a culinary delight but also a visual feast. The vibrant hues of the roasted eggplant, cherry tomatoes, and parsley contrast beautifully with the creamy sauces, creating a dish that is as pleasing to the eye as it is to the taste buds. It's perfect for potlucks, picnics, or as a refreshing summer meal. With its delightful combination of flavors and textures, this pasta salad is sure to become a favorite in your recipe collection.
ROASTED EGGPLANT AND TOMATO PASTA
This summery pasta is just as much about the vegetables as it is about the pasta itself. The star of the dish is the roasted eggplant, which caramelizes and softens in the oven. Those tender browned cubes then get tossed with cooked pasta and a quickly made sauce of fresh grated tomatoes, capers and chile flakes. Because the tomatoes need to be ripe and soft enough to fall into a purée when you rub the cut sides over the holes of a grater, heirloom tomatoes (which haven't been bred for sturdiness during shipping) are a good choice here. But any juicy, flavorful, fleshy tomatoes will work. The cheese at the end is strictly optional, as is the butter. If you don't eat dairy, feel free to leave them out.
Provided by Melissa Clark
Categories pastas, main course
Time 1h
Yield 4 to 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Heat oven to 450 degrees. Spread out eggplant cubes and peppers on a rimmed baking sheet. Toss with 3 tablespoons oil and season well with salt. Roast, turning everything, until eggplant and peppers are very soft and deeply golden brown, 30 to 40 minutes.
- Meanwhile, cook pasta in well-salted boiling water until about 1 minute shy of al dente. Drain.
- Using the large holes of a box grater, grate tomatoes over a large skillet so the pulp falls into the skillet. To do this, hold on to the curved side of the tomato in your hand and slide the cut, flat side across the holes. Stop grating just before you reach the skin.
- Add the garlic, red pepper flakes and 1 tablespoon olive oil to the pan with the tomatoes and bring to a simmer. Simmer until tomato pulp is reduced by half, then season to taste with salt.
- Add the pasta, capers and butter, if using, to the pan with the tomatoes and bring to a simmer, tossing until butter melts and pasta finishes cooking, about 1 minute. Turn off the heat and toss in eggplant and cheese, if using.
- Serve pasta drizzled with a little more oil and the herbs.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 275, UnsaturatedFat 1 gram, Carbohydrate 57 grams, Fat 1 gram, Fiber 8 grams, Protein 10 grams, SaturatedFat 0 grams, Sodium 834 milligrams, Sugar 11 grams
PASTA SALAD WITH ROASTED EGGPLANT, CHILE AND MINT
This is a pasta salad, but it is not the mayonnaise-slicked, droopy-noodle kind found on salad bars. To bring out the soft meatiness of the eggplant, roast cubes of it until they collapse into a caramelized heap, and toss them with chopped raw tomatoes and a handful of salty capers. Then dress the vegetables and pasta in the pungent, spicy oil, which is rich with anchovies, browned garlic and chiles, a strong contrast to the sweetness of the tomatoes and eggplant.
Provided by Melissa Clark
Categories dinner, weekday, pastas, main course
Time 45m
Yield 2 servings
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Heat oven to 400 degrees. On rimmed baking sheet, toss together eggplant, 3 tablespoons olive oil, ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Spread into one layer. Roast, tossing occasionally, until the eggplant is golden brown, about 25 minutes.
- Place tomato in large bowl and sprinkle lightly with salt.
- Bring large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook penne to al dente according to package instructions; drain well.
- While pasta cooks, heat large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 2 tablespoons oil. Stir in garlic, anchovies and chile flakes, and cook until golden and soft, about 3 minutes. Turn off heat and, using slotted spoon, transfer garlic to cutting board. Let garlic cool for a few minutes, then chop up and add back to the oil. Pour garlic-chile into bowl with tomatoes. Add eggplant and capers, and toss well.
- Add pasta to bowl with eggplant and tomatoes. Season with salt, pepper and lemon juice to taste, and drizzle generously with oil. Toss in herbs and serve warm or at room temperature.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 854, UnsaturatedFat 30 grams, Carbohydrate 113 grams, Fat 37 grams, Fiber 16 grams, Protein 22 grams, SaturatedFat 5 grams, Sodium 916 milligrams, Sugar 19 grams
PASTA SALAD WITH ROASTED EGGPLANT GIBB
Categories Salad Pasta Side Roast Picnic Basil Pine Nut Eggplant Bell Pepper Summer Potluck Gourmet Vegan Vegetarian Pescatarian Dairy Free Peanut Free Soy Free Kosher
Yield Serves 4
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 300°F.
- In a large colander set over a bowl toss eggplant with salt and let stand 1 hour.
- Rinse eggplant under cold water and gently squeeze by handfuls to remove excess liquid. Transfer eggplant to a large jelly-roll and toss with 2 tablespoons oil. Roast eggplant in middle of oven, shaking pan occasionally, until tender and golden, about 45 minutes, and cool.
- In a 4-quart kettle bring 2 quarts salted water to a boil for pasta.
- In a large bowl stir together eggplant, bell peppers, pine nuts, parsley, and basil.
- In a small bowl whisk together garlic, sugar, vinegar, and salt and pepper to taste. Add remaining 3 tablespoons oil in a stream, whisking, and whisk until emulsified.
- Add pasta to boiling water and boil, stirring occasionally, until al dente. In colander drain pasta and rinse under cold water. Add pasta to eggplant mixture and drizzle with dressing.
GRILLED RATATOUILLE PASTA SALAD
Slice up grilled eggplant and zucchini and toss with hot pasta, fresh tomatoes, herbs, and mozzarella for an almost instant ratatouille-inspired pasta dinner with all sorts of nice chargrilled flavors.
Provided by Anna Stockwell
Categories Grill Zucchini Eggplant Pasta Salad Tomato Mozzarella Vinegar Thyme Basil Summer Dinner Kid-Friendly Small Plates Vegetarian Pasta
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Prepare a grill for medium heat. Toss zucchini, eggplant, and 1/4 cup oil on a rimmed baking sheet; season with 1 tsp. salt and 1/2 tsp. pepper. Grill, turning often, until steamy, tender, and charred all over, 8-12 minutes. Return to baking sheet and let cool.
- Cook pasta according to package directions.
- Slice grilled vegetables into bite-size pieces and transfer to a large bowl. Add tomato, cheese, vinegar, thyme, and 1 1/2 tsp. salt, 1/2 tsp. pepper, and 1/2 cup oil and mix to combine. Drain pasta and immediately add to bowl with vegetables. Mix well to combine, then top with basil.
- Do Ahead: Vegetables can be grilled 3 days ahead. Transfer (whole) to an airtight container and chill.
Tips:
- Choose the right eggplant: Look for eggplants that are firm and have smooth, unblemished skin. Avoid eggplants that are soft or have brown spots.
- Roast the eggplant properly: To get the best flavor and texture, roast the eggplant until it is tender and slightly caramelized. This will take about 25-30 minutes at 425 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Use a variety of vegetables: This recipe is a great way to use up leftover vegetables. Feel free to add or substitute your favorite vegetables, such as zucchini, bell peppers, or mushrooms.
- Make the dressing ahead of time: The dressing for this pasta salad can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. This will save you time when you're ready to assemble the salad.
- Chill the salad before serving: For the best flavor, chill the pasta salad for at least 30 minutes before serving. This will allow the flavors to meld and the salad to become more refreshing.
Conclusion:
This pasta salad with roasted eggplant is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that is perfect for summer gatherings. It is packed with flavor and nutrients, and it can be customized to your liking. So next time you're looking for a light and refreshing meal, give this recipe a try.
Are you curently on diet or you just want to control your food's nutritions, ingredients? We will help you find recipes by cooking method, nutrition, ingredients...
Check it out »
You'll also love