Bucatini with Roasted Eggplant and Cherry Tomato Sauce turns fresh summer produce into a hearty dish that’s perfect for the transition to fall.
Yet again, I went a little crazy at the farm market and bought all the things. Much like the squirrels, who seem to know that summer is reaching its end, I’m running around stocking up on my fill of the season’s best; in my case, heirloom tomatoes and Fairy Tale eggplants.
We’ve had some chilly days over the past week here in New Jersey. I wore long sleeves and closed-toed shoes for most of Labor Day weekend! The cool evenings have begged for comforting dinners. How better to warm up than with a bowl of bucatini?
In this late-summer pasta dish, I make an heirloom cherry tomato sauce by sautéing the tomatoes with garlic until they burst. Tossed with roasted eggplant cubes, fresh herbs, and a grating of Ricotta Salata, this pasta is some of the best flavors of summer, wrapped up in a dish that’s comforting for fall.
Fresh Cherry Tomato Sauce
My late grandfather grew tomatoes and zucchini every summer. My grandmother used to make a quick tomato sauce from the harvest, adding sautéed zucchini rounds to the dish. It was so light and fresh; just perfect for a summer dinner.
When Epicurious’ video for 15-Minute Burst Cherry Tomato Sauce popped up in my Facebook feed last week, I was reminded of my grandmother’s simple summer sauce. With a sudden and serious craving for pasta, I decided so swap out “Nanny’s” zucchini with the eggplant I’d picked up at the market.
The resulting dish was a fresh tomato version of Pasta alla Norma, and we loved it.
Roasted Eggplant and Removing the Bitterness
Sautéing eggplant can be a little tricky. The cubes act like sponges and will soak up oil quickly. Depending on the recipe, you’re sometimes better off deep frying eggplant than shallow-frying to avoid a greasy taste. I wasn’t in the mood for frying when I made this pasta, so I decided to roast the eggplant.
Roasted eggplant uses far less oil, and takes a deep, rich flavor in the oven. When roasting, you want to look for a thin-skinned eggplant, like the Fairy Tale variety I used. Eggplant varieties with thicker skins can be used, but should be peeled so that the skin doesn’t become tough.
There’s a lot of division in the “salting vs. not-salting” eggplant debate. Maybe it’s habit, but I like to salt my eggplant for 30 minutes before cooking, especially for a pasta dish like this. I like the tender texture of the salted eggplant, and the process pretty much ensures I’m not going to add unwanted bitterness to my sauce. (I often find that even the varieties that claim “no bitterness,” still have a bite!)
Ricotta Salata – Not the ricotta in lasagna!
If you aren’t familiar with it, Ricotta Salata is a firm, sheep’s milk cheese that is often sold in wedges. It has a salty flavor that is a little bit briny. Ricotta Salata is softer in texture than a block of Parmigiano Reggiano, but grates or shaves beautifully over pasta.
It’s so much different than the creamy, fresh ricotta that can be eaten with a spoon!
My grandmother always grated Ricotta Salata over her tomato and zucchini sauce. It’s also a classic finish for Pasta Alla Norma.
If you can’t find “grating ricotta,” I’d substitute Pecorino Romano in this dish. You want that nice punctuation of saltiness against the tomatoes and eggplant.
(Bought a block of Ricotta Salata and wondering what else you can make with it? Check out this list of uses from The Kitchn.)
With a bowl of this pasta, and maybe a glass of Pinot Noir on the side, I might be okay with summer coming to a close and the heartier flavors of fall and winter on the horizon. Though, you can bet that I’ll be first in line at next year’s tomato harvest to savor summer again!
📖 Recipe
Bucatini with Roasted Eggplant and Cherry Tomato Sauce
Ingredients
- 1-½ pounds eggplant, cut into ¾- to 1-inch dice*
- ½ cup plus 2 tablespoons olive oil, plus additional for serving
- 3 large garlic cloves, chopped
- 2 pounds cherry tomatoes
- ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- ½ cup fresh basil leaves, torn
- 1 tablespoon fresh oregano leaves, roughly chopped
- 1 pound bucatini (or your favorite pasta)
- ricotta salata, for serving
- kosher salt and freshly-ground black pepper
Instructions
Roast the Eggplant
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Toss eggplant cubes and 1 tablespoon kosher salt in a colander set inside of a bowl. Let stand for 30 minutes. Discard any liquid in the bowl, rinse eggplant cubes, and dry well.
- On a large baking sheet (line with foil for easy cleanup), toss together eggplant, 2 tablespoons olive oil, and a few grinds of black pepper. Roast for 20 minutes. Flip eggplant cubes, and continue roasting for 10-15 minutes more, until eggplant is tender and browned.
Make the Cherry Tomato Sauce
- While eggplant is cooking, heat ½ cup olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add garlic and sauté for 30 seconds, until fragrant. Add cherry tomatoes, ½ teaspoon salt, and a few grinds of black pepper. Cook until tomato skins begin to blister, pressing down on the tomatoes with the black of a wooden spoon to help them burst and release their juices. Add the crushed red pepper flakes, if using.
- Lower heat and simmer until tomatoes are soft and the sauce is thickened, about 15 minutes.**
- Stir in roasted eggplant, basil, and oregano. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Serve
- Cook bucatini to "al-dente" in a pot of salted, boiling water. Reserve 1 cup of the pasta cooking water and drain pasta in a colander. Add pasta to the sauce skillet and toss to combine over medium heat. Add reserved pasta cooking water, as needed, to bring the sauce to a consistency that coats the pasta.
- Serve in warm bowls, with a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil, and grated ricotta salata on the top.
Susan says
Found this recipe on Pinterest and so glad I did. I bought these cute little eggplants at the farmers market over the weekend. I needed to use up the extra cherry tomatoes too. This recipe was just what I needed with my merlot. I did sub some homemade pesto for the torn basil as dinner prep coincided with a thunderstorm. So good. Thank you!
Adam says
Tonight I made this recipe for probably the sixth time, exactly as written. It is a major favorite in our house and has wowed a few guests too. Hearty, delicious, deeply flavorful, and a great texture too. It works well with regular eggplants or the thinner skin varieties, I’ve used both. Your preparation methods are so well written and easy to follow, so this is a no-fail recipe that’s a pleasure to make and a real winner to serve and enjoy. Thank you so much!
Helen says
I don’t always remember to review delicious recipes I find, but when I’ve returned 3 or 4 times I have to! This is so simple and so delicious. Thanks for sharing ????
Amanda Biddle says
Hi Helen, I’m so glad to know that you’re enjoying this recipe as much as my family and I do! :) Thank you for returning to leave such a lovely review–I very much appreciate it.
Happy Cooking!
Sara Medacier says
Just tried it last night and it was amazing. Perfect way to spice up my Paleo diet.
Thanks for the recipe Amanda!!! My family is raving over this meal. Tried it with Miracle Noodles – Fettuccine and it worked like a charm!
Leota says
This was divine. Just made it with fresh heirloom tomatoes as that is what I had in the pantry. Put dried oregano in while cooking down the tomatoes as I didn’t have fresh. Shaved pecorino for serving with basil leaves. Yum! So simple, few ingredients yet deeply rich flavor & so healthy!
<3 My guest didn't even eat his bread (& he's a bread man)!
Thank you!
River Wolfe says
We have an abundance of cherry tomatoes this year. I grew tired of quinoa and pasta salad and found this recipe. It is AMAZING! It really shows off the flavor of the sweet and tart cherry tomatoes. Another “go to” recipe for my Summer harvest.
Amanda {Striped Spatula} says
I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe, River! I’m actually making a batch myself today after a trip to the farm market! :) Enjoy the rest of the summer and all of this wonderful produce!
Sarah @ Champagne Tastes says
I always salt my eggplant too.. and I love that you used Fairy Tale eggplant!!! (The name sells it for me, even if it wasn’t as awesome as it is haha.) This sounds delicious, even if it did remind me that I’m really sad that my tomato plants are winding down for fall
peter @Feed Your Soul Too says
I am really into this recipe. The char on the eggplant is great. The sauce is simple yet flavorful. The noodle choice is so good and fun. Now I just need to get my wife to like eggplant!