This is a quick and easy recipe for a delicious eggplant pasta that takes just minutes to prepare.
But before I share this pasta recipe let me share these beautiful and I mean BEAUTIFUL photos that one of my twins Rani took this week from guess where? La Dolce Vita!! Italy!!
The twins Anjali and Rani are on a school trip to Italy this week! Why didn’t we go along? We tried, believe me!! But their school was very clear – only for students please! So here we are in California enjoying Italy vicariously through our kids. Rani texted these photos from Florence on day two of their trip and the pictures are just gorgeous!
Rani in Florence, Italy
Is Rani in Santa Barbara? Nah. This is Florence!
Art on the street in Florence.
Food in Florence looks out of this world!
Eggplant Tomato Pasta
Ingredients:
- 1 lb pasta of your choice
- 1 large Italian eggplant cut into small cubes
- 5 garlic cloves crushed
- 1/2 tsp red chili flakes
- 1 15oz can of stewed or plum tomatoes in their juices
- 4-5 fresh basil leaves or 1 tbsp dry basil
- Salt
- Olive oil
- Fresh mozzarella (as much as you want) – you can also leave it out to make this pasta dairy free
Directions:
- In a large pot heat 2 tbsp olive oil. Add garlic and chili flakes and sauté for a few seconds. Immediately add the cut eggplant and cook for 10 minutes until the veggies are tender.
- Next add the can of tomatoes and their juices. Make sure to crush the tomatoes with your hands as you add it to the eggplant. Add basil and salt to taste. Cover and cook for an additional 10 minutes until sauce is bubbly and slightly thickened.
- In the meantime cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and add pasta to the eggplant sauce and mix together.
- Next add as much fresh mozzarella as you would like and mix into the pasta.
- The cheese will melt into a gooey stringy texture.
- Pasta is ready.
- Serve pasta right away with garnish of Parmesan cheese.
Buon Appetito!
Kalpana made this pasta today. Came out very nice. Everyone enjoyed it.
Thanks
That’s great! Thanks for letting me know.
Very nice pictures! Rani has good photography skills!
Pasta looks very delicious too.
Thanks Basanthi. Rani is a very artistic photo taker.
I definitely want to try the eggplant pasta. Thank you for sharing. Rani’s photos are excellent.
Coming from you – the compliment on Rani’s photos mean a lot ❤️
They are wonderful ❤️
Yes, truly beautiful photos! They truly capture the essence of Italy. Awesome job, Rani – the saying is true that the apple does not fall far from the tree!😜
I’m flattered that Rani thinks my version of tiramisu is comparable to what she had on this trip – cool!!😍. I can’t wait to hear more stories and see more photos from the girls when they get back!!
You are an amazing cook, I’m not surprised that what Rani had in Italy is as good as yours!
Dear Kalpana, greetings from NYC. Between your pasta dish and Rani’s pictures, I think I’d rather be in Italy.🤔😊😋😍.
Stella! I was just thinking of you!! How great that you are in NYC! You deserve a break! Looking forward to hearing all about your trip. I agree, I’d rather be in Italy too!!
Ohh my gosh I love this!! Thank you for sharing, it all looks crazy delicious 😁😁😁
You are welcome!! 😀😀
Rani,has inherited your talent for taking candid shots . I specially loved the ” Art ” display on the street . I have only tasted Eggplant Parmesan Lasagna but this One with Pasta seems equally tempting. I am a foodie and i love all cuisines but nothing to compete with Guthi Venkaya( a stuffed Eggplant Recipe from Andhra )
Dolly, i posted an eggplant colored saree t profile photo o match your post … Iam really getting a lot of kick playing along with your blog post …
Sounds like fun matching your outfits to my blog posts 😀.
I must admit even I was impressed with Rani’s photography skills!!
Your stuffed eggplant sounds delicious. Please share the recipe!
i have emailed you the recipe
Thank you!
She is so beautiful & radiant!!! And wow, I am living vicariously through this post- I have never been to Italy, but it’s at the top of my travel list! All this food looks so yummy too!
Aw thank you Mackenzie!! Rani will be so happy to see this comment!! Italy does look amazing, I can’t wait to go a well!
<3
I consider Italian food the best on the planet. I have been eating tiramisu since my trip three years ago and none compares. Recipe PLEASE. ..and nice bowl. Is it new?
I too consider Italian food to be the best in the world!! Here is an authentic Italian tiramisu recipe from my friend Rose who learnt how to make it from an Italian chef in Tuscany!
https://surreyfarms.net/2017/03/18/tiramisu/
The bowl is actually a salad bowl set I had bought from Williams Sonoma years ago. I have so many platters and bowls that every one of them will look new to folks 😀.
My daughter will be so happy. Thank you.
You are welcome! Please let me know how it turns out!
Wonderful photos of Florence, Italy taken by Rani! Nice job Dolly on incorporating it into your recipe.
Thanks Dad.