Eggplant, pork and fennel rigatoni

Recipes / Meat

A weekday pasta of eggplant, Italian-style sausage and the taste of fennel will satisfy a hearty winter appetite.

Recipe «Eggplant, pork and fennel rigatoni» presented in category Recipes / Meat, to prepare this dish you will need no more 20 minutes. To make this dish at home by prescription from the author sheff would need: 1 eggplant, cut into small cubes, 2 tsp salt, 450g Italian-style pork and fennel sausages, 1 1/2 tbsp olive oil, Olive oil cooking spray , 1 small red onion, finely chopped, 700g bottle tomato passata, 400g dried rigatoni , 250g fresh ricotta, crumbled.

Ingredients:

  • 1 eggplant, cut into small cubes 
  • 2 tsp salt 
  • 450g Italian-style pork and fennel sausages 
  • 1 1/2 tbsp olive oil 
  • Olive oil cooking spray 
  • 1 small red onion, finely chopped 
  • 700g bottle tomato passata 
  • 400g dried rigatoni 
  • 250g fresh ricotta, crumbled 

Instructions

  1. Place eggplant on a plate. Sprinkle with salt. Stand for 5 minutes. Remove sausage meat from casings (see note). Discard casings. Break sausage meat into small pieces.
  2. Rinse eggplant under cold water. Pat dry with paper towel. Heat 2 teaspoons oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Cook sausage meat for 3 to 4 minutes or until browned and cooked through. Transfer sausage meat to a plate lined with paper towel. Carefully wipe pan clean. Return pan to heat. Spray eggplant with oil. Add eggplant to pan. Cook, stirring, for 2 minutes or until golden. Transfer to a plate.
  3. Reduce heat to medium‑low. Add remaining oil to pan. Add onion. Cook, stirring frequently, for 5 minutes or until softened. Add passata and 1 cup cold water. Season well with salt and pepper. Simmer, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes or until sauce thickens.
  4. Meanwhile, cook pasta in a large saucepan of boiling salted water, following packet directions, until just tender. Drain. Return to pan.
  5. Add sausage meat and eggplant to tomato mixture. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes or until heated through. Add to pasta with half the ricotta. Toss to combine. Divide pasta among bowls. Top with remaining ricotta. Serve.