Grilled Eggplant And Garlic Pasta Recipes

5 STEP GRILLED VEGETABLE PASTA

Steps:

• Preheat grill on high heat. Prepare pasta according to package instructions and set aside.
• Peel the red onion then slice into thick rounds. To keep the rounds intact while grilling, insert 2-3 toothpicks around the outside edge; set aside.
• While the grill is heating and pasta is cooking, whisk together olive oil, garlic, oregano, salt and pepper in a large mixing bowl. Add the vegetables to the bowl (peppers, eggplant and onion) and toss well to coat.
• Place vegetables on a single layer on the grill and cook until slightly charred and tender, about 5-6 minutes per side, flipping once. Keep the bowl and any reserved marinade next to your grill. When vegetables are done cooking, from the grill and place back in the bowl with the reserved oil mixture.
• When vegetables are cool enough to touch, remove from bowl and roughly chop into bite-sized pieces. Place back in the bowl with the reserved oil mixture along with the cooked pasta. Add cheese and basil then toss again. Check for seasoning and add salt and pepper to taste. Serve warm, room temperature or chilled.

PENNE WITH GRILLED TOMATOES AND EGGPLANT

Steps:

• Prepare barbecue (medium heat). Spray both sides of eggplant slices and tomato halves with olive oil spray. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Grill eggplant slices until brown and tender and tomato halves until charred, turning occasionally, about 10 minutes for eggplant slices and about 7 minutes for tomato halves. Cool.
• Cut eggplant into 1/2-inch-wide strips. Cut tomatoes into 1-inch pieces.
• Meanwhile, cook pasta in large pot of boiling salted water until tender but still firm to bite. Drain pasta. Return pasta to same pot.
• Add eggplant, tomatoes, parsley, olive oil and garlic to pasta and toss to blend. Stir in grated cheese. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve warm or at room temperature. (Can be prepared 2 hours ahead.)

PASTA WITH GRILLED EGGPLANT SAUCE

Steps:

• Slice the eggplants horizontally one-half-inch thick. Dust the slices with salt, place in a colander over a bowl and set aside for 30 minutes.
• Light a barbecue or an oven broiler.
• After 30 minutes rinse the salted eggplant in cold water and pat dry on paper towels. Brush the eggplant slices with four tablespoons of the olive oil and grill or broil them, turning them once, until they are lightly browned.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil for the pasta.
• While the water is coming to a boil, heat the remaining tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet. Add the onion and saute over medium heat until it turns golden, add the garlic and saute a few seconds longer. Chop the grilled eggplant and add it to the skillet. Remove from heat.
• Boil the pasta until it is al dente, about eight minutes. Drain it. Reheat the onion and eggplant mixture in the skillet and add the tomatoes. Mix. Add the pasta, mix again, fold in the basil and season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Serve at once with Parmesan cheese on the side.