Flavorful Tomato Pasta with Roasted Eggplant and Sausage
How to Make Sausage and Eggplant Pasta: A Delicious Tomato Sauce Pasta Dish with Roasted Eggplant and Sausage
Introducing a special tomato pasta recipe featuring seasonal eggplants, baked to perfection! If you’ve ever found eggplant’s soft texture unappealing, this recipe will change your mind. Lightly roasting the eggplant beforehand gives it a wonderfully chewy texture and deepens its flavor, offering a taste far superior to ordinary pasta. Adding savory sausage further enhances the balance and richness of this dish, making it an easy-to-follow pasta meal for everyone.
Ingredients (Serves 2)- 1 fresh eggplant
- 1.5 servings pasta (approx. 150g)
- 2 cups tomato spaghetti sauce (approx. 400ml)
- 1/2 medium onion
- 3 fresh shiitake mushrooms
- 3 frankfurter sausages (approx. 150g)
- 1/2 Tbsp minced garlic
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Prepare 1 fresh eggplant. Wash it thoroughly, remove the stem, and slice it diagonally about 0.5cm thick. Slicing it at a slight angle will help it absorb more sauce and taste even better.
Step 2
Heat a dry pan (no oil needed) and place the sliced eggplant onto it. Lightly sprinkle salt over the eggplant slices. This helps draw out moisture, leading to a chewier texture. Cook over medium-low heat until both sides are lightly browned and have a slightly firm, ‘꾸덕꾸덕’ texture. Be careful not to burn it by managing the heat.
Step 3
Thinly slice 1/2 medium onion and 3 fresh shiitake mushrooms. Shiitake mushrooms add a wonderful aroma that deepens the overall flavor of the pasta.
Step 4
Slice 3 frankfurter sausages diagonally into bite-sized pieces. Their juicy texture will add a delightful chewiness and savory flavor to the pasta.
Step 5
Now, let’s cook the pasta. Typically, a portion the size of a 500-won coin is one serving, but with the addition of eggplant and sausage, we’ll use 1.5 servings (about 150g). Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil, add 1 tablespoon of salt, and cook the pasta according to package directions, but remove it about 1 minute before it’s fully done for an al dente texture. Drain the pasta using a colander and set aside. It’s a good idea to reserve some of the pasta water; it can be used later to help the sauce emulsify and coat the pasta.
Step 6
Wipe a clean pan and add a little cooking oil. Sauté 1/2 Tbsp minced garlic over low heat until fragrant. Be careful not to burn the garlic. Add the sliced onions first and sauté until they become translucent. Once the onions are softened, add the sliced shiitake mushrooms and cook together until fragrant. When the vegetables are tender, add the sliced sausages and sauté until lightly browned.
Step 7
Add the pre-roasted chewy eggplant slices to the pan. Sauté briefly with the vegetables and sausage, just long enough to combine their flavors. Since the eggplant is already cooked, it doesn’t need long.
Step 8
Pour in 2 cups (approx. 400ml) of tomato spaghetti sauce. Stir well to combine all the ingredients with the sauce and let it simmer over medium heat. Allow the sauce to thicken slightly, infusing the ingredients with its rich flavor.
Step 9
Once the sauce is simmering nicely, add the cooked pasta to the pan. Toss gently to ensure the pasta is evenly coated with the sauce. Continue to cook for another minute or so, mixing well. If the sauce seems too thick, add a splash of the reserved pasta water to adjust the consistency and help the sauce cling to the pasta.
Step 10
And there you have it – a special tomato pasta featuring delightfully chewy roasted eggplant and savory sausage! Made for two servings, this pasta is satisfying without being heavy, thanks to the eggplant which allows for a slightly reduced portion of pasta while still feeling full. It’s a healthier and more flavorful way to enjoy pasta. Take a bite with the pasta, sausage, and roasted eggplant all together, and you’ll experience a perfect harmony of the tangy tomato sauce and the unique flavors of each ingredient. This pasta truly captures both unique taste and health benefits with its roasted eggplant, making it a wonderful addition to your dining table.
