A delicious homemade tomato pasta sauce, perfectly cooked aubergines and salty, stretchy, gooey strings of Mozzarella make this simple Aubergine and Mozzarella Pasta recipe a real family favourite. Ready in under 30 minutes it’s perfect for busy weeknights!
This Aubergine and Mozzarella Pasta is a dish I have been making my family for years. It actually started off life as a Jamie Oliver recipe (from Jamie’s Dinners.) Over time I’ve tweaked it a bit to simplify the ingredients a bit and make it easier to make, but it’s no less yummy! And now it’s easier to make, we can have it more often – hooray! 😀
This recipe is an absolute favourite with my kids who love the soft, warm, stringy mozzarella and will happily eat their way through moundfuls of aubergine and tomatoey pasta in order to be allowed some more mozzarella!
This delicious Aubergine and Mozzarella Pasta can be enjoyed on it’s own as a quick and simple midweek dinner or it can be enjoyed with a side salad and some garlic bread for a more substantial meal.
It goes brilliantly with crisp, dry Italian whites such as Pinot Grigio, Soave or Verdicchio. Alternatively it also goes well with Sauvignon Blanc. If you prefer red, try a Montepulciano d’Abbruzzo or a simple Chianti.
If you should be lucky enough to have some leftovers (or you make extras specifically), this Aubergine and Mozzarella Pasta can be reheated in the oven and turned into a pasta bake – reheat in a baking dish covered with foil at 180C / 160C fan / gas mark 4 / 350F for 20-30 minutes.
Aubergine and Mozzarella Pasta
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small red onion you can use a white one, but I prefer red in this recipe
- 1 medium aubergine chopped into 1cm cubes
- 1 clove of garlic crushed or finely diced
- 400 g tin chopped tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- Salt and pepper
- 300 g penne pasta you could make this with any shape, but I like it best with penne
- A small handful of basil leaves roughly torn
- 150 g ball mozzarella chopped roughly
Instructions
- Put a the olive oil in the base of a wide, deep pan. Add the chopped red onion and put the lid on. Sweat the onion on a low heat until it is translucent, but not brown - about 5 minutes. Meanwhile you can chop the other veggies.
- Turn the heat up high and add the aubergine. Stir-fry until the aubergine is nicely browned, (you may need to add a splash more oil), then turn down the heat and add the crushed garlic and fry for 1 more minute.
- Add the tin of chopped tomatoes, a tablespoon of balsamic vinegar and some salt and pepper, then bring to the boil. Turn the heat down and leave to simmer for 10-15 minutes with the lid off, stirring occasionally.
- While the sauce is cooking, cook the pasta according to the packet instructions / your own preferences.
- Drain the pasta and tip it into the sauce, stirring thoroughly to coat the pasta in the sauce. You may want to add a drop or two of the pasta cooking water to make the sauce looser.
- Finally, add the basil leaves and mozzarella and stir again. There should be just enough heat in the pan to warm and slightly soften the mozzarella. Yum!
Notes
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Michelle Frank | Flipped-Out Food says
Oh my goodness, this looks so delicious! I love aubergine, but my hubster takes some convincing. I’m sure he’ll happily tuck in to this though: so many wonderful flavors going on!
Eb Gargano says
Thanks Michelle – hahaha, you should do what I do for the kids and cut the aubergine up nice and small and make sure there’s plenty of mozzarella 😀 Eb x
Monika Dabrowski says
I love simple pasta dishes like this one, my kids have even started complaining I make too much pasta, but it’s so versatile and you know this better than anyone else! Another delicious dinner idea that’s really easy peasy:)
#CookBlogShare
Eb Gargano says
My kids complained about the exact same thing yesterday…”We always have pasta, it’s so boring” My husband had to point out that a) that wasn’t even remotely true and b) having a food blogger for a mother meant they probably had a way more varied diet than any of their friends! Kids, eh? Still, I’d rather have two little foodies always wanting something new and different that kids who just wanted the same old, same old every day! Eb x
Corina Blum says
It looks delicious! I’d happily eat my way through a big plateful of this and the same with the leftovers the next day! Thanks so much for sharing with #CookOnceEatTwice x
Eb Gargano says
Thanks Corina…yes it’s definitely one of those recipes where you are tempted to eat just a little bit too much 😀 Eb x
Rebecca - Glutarama says
I rarely eat aubergine but saw three THREE different types in Waitrose when I was helping my gran do her shopping the other day (she can afford Waitrose!) I may be persuaded to give this a go with said aubergine! #CookBlogShare
Eb Gargano says
Oooh – 3 different types?? That sounds very exciting!! I love the little ones, and also the stripy ones, but I very rarely see them in the shops 🙁 Hope you like this if you try it! Eb x
Maryam says
This was delicious! I forgot to put in the balsamic but it still worked out great 🙂
Eb Gargano says
So pleased you liked it Maryam! Thanks so much for letting me know – always makes me happy to hear my recipes are being made and enjoyed. Eb 🙂
Helen Watkin says
This has to be right at the top of my easypeasy favourite recipes. Simply delicious and so easy. I sometimes add a red pepper for a bit more veg. I think the balsamic vinegar uptakes this simple dish to another level.
Eb Gargano says
Aw, thanks so much for this lovely feedback, Helen! And thanks especially for the 5 stars 😀 I totally agree about the balsamic and love the idea of adding red pepper! Eb 🙂
Jean says
Simple, tasty quick and healthy! What’s not to love? Looking forward to the leftovers already lol.
Eb Gargano says
Aw, thanks Jean. I am so pleased you enjoyed it! Eb 🙂