The Replacement
Aromatic Aubergine Pasta
Ingredients
450 g aubergines, cut in ½ cm slices
½ cup olive oil
2 garlic cloves, peeled and minced
2 fresh thyme sprigs
1 cup vegetable stock
450 g long dried pasta (spaghetti or linguine)
2 tablespoons sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
10 flat basil leaves, chopped
sea salt
pepper, freshly ground
Method
1. Lightly salt the sliced aubergines and stack them in a colander for 20 minutes, to neutralise any bitterness. Drain the aubergines and pat them dry with a paper towel. Cut aubergines into cubes.
2. For aubergine sauce: Meanwhile, pour the olive oil into a wide, heavy pan, add garlic and stir on a medium heat. Increase the temperature to medium-high, add the aubergines and sauté. When the aubergines start to brown, add the thyme sprigs and stock and bring to a simmer. Reduce temperature to medium-low, stir once, cover and set aside.
3. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta to al dente (2 minutes less than the packet’s instructions). Drain the pasta and add to the aubergine sauce, stirring in the sun-dried tomatoes, basil and adding a swirl of olive oil to blend. Season to taste and serve.
Serves 4 to 6
