Description
Spicy Eggplant Pasta is a flavorful and comforting Italian-inspired dish featuring tender sautéed eggplant in a spicy tomato sauce tossed with perfectly cooked pasta. This recipe combines the natural sweetness of eggplant with garlic, crushed red pepper flakes, and aromatic herbs to create an incredible meal that’s easy to prepare in under 45 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Ingredients
- 8 oz. spaghetti or preferred pasta
- 1 medium eggplant, diced
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)
- 1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- Fresh basil leaves, for garnish
- Grated Parmesan cheese, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Boil Pasta: Begin by bringing a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the spaghetti or preferred pasta and cook according to the package instructions until al dente. Once cooked, reserve ½ cup of pasta water and drain the rest.
- Sauté Eggplant: While the pasta cooks, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the diced eggplant and sauté for 8-10 minutes until the eggplant is golden and tender, stirring frequently to ensure even cooking.
- Add Garlic and Spices: Stir in the minced garlic and crushed red pepper flakes. Cook for 1-2 minutes until the garlic is fragrant but not browned.
- Simmer Tomato Sauce: Pour in the diced tomatoes with their juice. Season with dried basil, salt, and black pepper. Allow the sauce to simmer gently for 5-7 minutes to meld the flavors and slightly thicken.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Add the drained pasta to the skillet with the eggplant sauce. Toss together, adding reserved pasta water a little at a time to reach your desired sauce consistency.
- Finish with Olive Oil: Drizzle the remaining tablespoon of olive oil over the pasta and toss again to coat evenly.
- Serve: Plate the pasta and garnish with fresh basil leaves. Optionally, top with grated Parmesan cheese for added richness and flavor.
Notes
- Adjust the amount of crushed red pepper flakes to control the spiciness according to your preference.
- Make sure to sauté the eggplant until tender and golden for the best texture and flavor.
- Reserving pasta water helps to loosen the sauce and bind it nicely to the pasta.
- Parmesan cheese is optional but adds a savory depth to the dish.
- This recipe can be made gluten-free by choosing gluten-free pasta.
