Step up your pasta game by incorporating the always adaptable eggplant. This richly hued produce item (which is actually a fruit) is mellow, versatile, and undeniably delicious. Whether it's simmered in a Bolognese sauce or used as a substitute for traditional noodles in lasagna, eggplant is the answer when standard pasta just won't do. Here are eight eggplant pasta recipes we know you'll love.
Spicy Eggplant and Pasta with Pancetta
This peppery pasta dish is made with cherry tomatoes, red wine, diced eggplant, and red pepper flakes. Store-bought marinara sauce makes it easy to create this lovely, filling meal in under an hour.
Eggplant Rollatine
"What a great dish," says home cook John. "Make extra because this is one that's even better the next day. Slice the eggplant lengthwise or you won't be able to roll it. I have also added sun-dried tomatoes and basil from our garden to the filling."
Roasted Eggplant Lasagna
Eggplant slices are slow-roasted before being layered in place of traditional noodles. An Italian cheese blend, fresh thyme, and minced garlic make this sumptuous dish extra special.
Mediterranean-Style Eggplant Pasta
"This was fairly easy to make and super yummy," says Haley Egesdahl. "The hubby and the 6 year old were happy and they requested that I make it again." Red wine vinegar gives this dish a kiss of acidity that is absolutely delicious.
Pasta Melanzana
A blend of cubed eggplant, lemon juice, spinach, and Parmesan cheese makes the perfect mid-week meal. Ready in just 25 minutes, this tangy, cheesy dish will forever change the way you see eggplant.
Eggplant Bolognese
A treasured classic gets an update from silky, chopped eggplant. Sausage simmers with diced tomatoes, mushrooms, and yellow onions for a rich, herbaceous sauce that is ready to be poured over the pasta of your choice.
Pasta alla Norma
This dish takes its name from an Italian opera, and the flavors are aptly well harmonized. "Super delicious," says Bill Stern. "Rich flavors. I grilled the eggplant to save on oil. Definitely a keeper."
Quick Vegan Eggplant Pasta
A delectable pasta dish that celebrates eggplant by combining it with zippy capers, onions, and whole tomatoes. A generous amount of fresh basil gives this dish freshness and balance.