Spaghetti with Roasted Eggplant Pesto ___

Spaghetti with Roasted Eggplant Pesto

Ingredients

For the Pasta:

  • 2 medium eggplant, or 3 Sicilian small eggplant, skin on and cut into strips 2 inches long and half an inch wide.
  • 0.5 cup extra virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 15 ounces cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 0.5 cup grated parmigiano reggiano cheese
  • 0.5 cup pinoli nuts, divided
  • 5 fresh basil leaves
  • 1 pound dried spaghetti

Directions

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Spread the eggplant onto the baking sheet and toss in the oil and salt, making sure all the eggplant is well coated. Drizzle a bit more oil over the top of the eggplant and roast for 15 minutes.

Add the tomatoes to the pan and roast for an additional 15 minutes or until the tomatoes are blistered and the eggplant is cooked through and soft.

Remove from the oven and cool for 15 minutes.   

Transfer the eggplant and tomatoes to the bowl of a food processor along with the cheese, 1/4 cup of the pinoli and the basil. Process until smooth. Remove to a large skillet and mix in the remaining pinoli nuts.   

Drop the Spaghetti into generously salted boiling water.    

Get your Spaghetti HERE!

While the pasta is cooking, heat the sauce over medium-high heat and add about 1/2 cup of pasta water to it to loosen.   

Cool the pasta till al dente and drain. Toss in the sauce for 1-2 minutes. If the pan seems a bit dry add another 1/4 cup of pasta water.