Indulge in a culinary journey with our exquisite Rigatoni with Eggplant and Pine Nut Crunch. This delightful dish tantalizes the taste buds with its symphony of flavors and textures. Succulent eggplant, roasted to perfection, blends harmoniously with tender rigatoni pasta, creating a mouthwatering canvas for the vibrant flavors to dance upon. Topped with a medley of pine nuts, garlic, and fresh herbs, each bite delivers a satisfying crunch and burst of aromatic essence.
Accompanying this main course are two additional recipes that elevate the dining experience. Start your meal with a refreshing Arugula Salad with Lemon-Tahini Dressing, where peppery arugula leaves are tossed in a zesty dressing of lemon, tahini, and honey, creating a vibrant and palate-cleansing prelude. Complete your culinary adventure with a luscious dessert, the Orange-Pistachio Biscotti, where crispy biscotti cookies are infused with the bright citrus flavors of orange and the nutty elegance of pistachios, offering a sweet and satisfying conclusion to your culinary journey.
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.
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
RIGATONI WITH ITALIAN EGGPLANT
Provided by Food Network
Time 1h12m
Yield 4 to 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Heat olive oil in a 3 quart saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onions and garlic. Cook, stirring until softened, about 2 minutes. Add the eggplant and cook. Continue stirring until softened, about 3 more minutes.
- Add tomatoes, with liquid, breaking them up with the back of spoon. Stir in wine, tomato paste, sugar, oregano, thyme, rosemary, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, for 30 minutes or until thickened, stirring occasionally.
- Bring large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Cook pasta until al dente; drain. Toss pasta with sauce in pan over medium heat for about 2 minutes. Serve on a large platter and top with grated Romano cheese.
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 EGGPLANT AND PINE NUT CRUNCH
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 425°F. Spray large rimmed baking sheet with nonstick spray; add eggplant and peppers. Cut tomatoes in half lengthwise; add to sheet. Using garlic press, squeeze 1 garlic clove onto vegetables. Drizzle vegetables with oil; toss. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roast vegetables until tender, stirring often, 35 to 45 minutes. Combine 2/3 cup basil, 1/2 cup Parmesan, pine nuts, and 1 garlic clove in mini processor. Blend until crumbly. Season topping with salt. Blend tomatoes with juice, cream, 1 1/3 cups basil, and 1 garlic clove in processor until smooth. Season sauce with salt and pepper. Cook pasta in pot of boiling salted water until just tender but still firm to bite, stirring occasionally; drain. Return to pot. Toss with vegetables, sauce, and 1/2 cup Parmesan. Transfer to 13x9x2-inch baking dish. Sprinkle with mozzarella and pine nut topping. Bake pasta until heated through, 25 to 35 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes and serve.
BAKED RIGATONI WITH EGGPLANT AND SAUSAGE
I got this recipe from the Food Network. It is Tyler Florence's. It was SO delicious and easy. Everyone loved it and it is a nice take-off on baked rigatoni/ziti. My kids loved it, too.
Provided by LizP5885
Categories Pork
Time 50m
Yield 8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat for the pasta.
- Oil a 9x13 pan with olive oil.
- Heat a 3 Tbsp 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 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 3 Tbsp olive oil to the skillet, then the 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.
- Add the rigatoni to the boiling pasta water, 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°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 until combined.
- Dust with the Parmigiano and drizzle with 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.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 689.8, Fat 35.3, SaturatedFat 15.9, Cholesterol 135.4, Sodium 1296.7, Carbohydrate 55.1, Fiber 5.9, Sugar 7.5, Protein 38.3
Tips:
- Use fresh, ripe eggplant for the best flavor and texture.
- Soak the eggplant in salted water for 30 minutes before cooking to remove any bitterness.
- Cook the eggplant over medium heat until it is golden brown and tender.
- Use a variety of vegetables in your dish for added flavor and nutrition.
- Toast the pine nuts in a dry skillet over medium heat until they are golden brown and fragrant.
- Add the pine nuts to the dish just before serving for the best flavor and texture.
- Serve the dish with a sprinkle of grated Parmesan cheese.
Conclusion:
This rigatoni with eggplant and pine nut crunch is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that is perfect for a weeknight meal. The combination of flavors and textures in this dish is sure to please everyone at the table. So next time you're looking for a quick and tasty pasta dish, give this recipe a try.
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