Caramelized Onion, Tomato, and Eggplant Pasta

Name: Caramelized Onion, Tomato, and Eggplant Pasta
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 50 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 1 cup Globe Eggplant (1 to 2 globe eggplants, diced to yield 4 to 6 cups — up to 2); 0 pieces Olive Oil (olive oil); 0 pieces Kosher Salt (kosher salt); 1 cup Yellow Onion (1 onion, thinly sliced to yield about 2 cups); ¾ lb Pasta (3/4 lb. pasta such as Gemelli or whatever you like best); 2 cloves Garlic (2 cloves garlic, minced or sliced); 0 pieces Red Pepper Flakes (red pepper flakes); 2 tbsp Sherry Vinegar (2 tablespoons sherry (or other) vinegar); 2 cup Tomato Sauce (2 cups tomato sauce (I like this tomato-basil sauce or Marcella Hazan’s Tomato Sauce)); 0 pieces Basil (handful fresh basil); 0 pieces Ricotta Salata Cheese (ricotta salata cheese or Parmigiano Reggiano); 0 pieces Black Pepper (freshly cracked black pepper)

Caramelized Onion, Tomato, and Eggplant Pasta - Pasta (Italian)

50 minItalian

Servings4

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Vegetarian
Pescatarian
Egg Free

Steps

1Preheat the oven to 400ºF. Cut the eggplants into cubes about 3/4-inch square, toss them with 2 tablespoons of olive oil and a big pinch of salt. Spread them out in a single layer on a sheet pan (parchment-lined, if you wish, for easy cleanup). Roast in the oven for 25 minutes or until the eggplant is light brown and tender.
2Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add a tablespoon of kosher salt. Cook the pasta al dente.
3Meanwhile, heat a large sauté pan with 2 tablespoons olive oil and the onions over medium heat. Season with salt and sauté over medium to medium-low heat until the onions are just caramelized, 20 minutes to 25 minutes. Add the garlic and crushed red pepper flakes, and cook for 30 seconds; then deglaze with the sherry vinegar. Add the tomato sauce and eggplant. Heat the sauce to simmering. Drain the pasta, add it to the tomato sauce pan, and toss gently. Taste. Adjust with salt and pepper to taste.
4To finish, add the basil and stir to combine. Serve the pasta with shaved cheese over the top and more pepper if you wish, too.