Simple Bucatini and Eggplant is a delicious, fast and easy recipe idea. Made with olive oil, fresh Italian parsley, garlic and chopped eggplant then tossed together with bucatini noodles. This simple yet perfect Pasta Dish will make you think you are in Italy.

There is nothing like summer with all the over abundance of vegetables from your garden or your local farmer. I love the idea that in Canada you can have baskets of fresh off the vine vegetables delivered straight to your door once a week or visit all the local fresh markets around town.

Lucky for me, in Italy we have enough land to grow our own and living in a part of the country where we really don’t have to worry about frost we can basically grow fresh veggies 12 months out of the year.

Although every vegetable has its season, sometimes I will hear the phrase “that again?” So this is where imagination and keeping your eyes and ears open in the grocery stores and in everyone else’s kitchen comes in handy.

eggplant and pasta how to make eggplant raw, and cooked in a pan

How many Recipes have I discovered that way?

In fact the first time I ever tried this Pasta and Eggplant recipe was in Italy, in my mother-in-law’s kitchen. She served this Pasta dish for lunch.

I wasn’t very familiar with eggplant and really had no idea what it tasted like. But oh my goodness when I did taste it, it was out of this world!

So this little underrated and unknown to me and I am sure to many others, Pasta and Eggplant dish soon became my favourite for quite a while and in fact it is still one of my favourites.

eggplant in a pan with parmesan cheese in a small bowl

Table of Contents

How to make the perfect Eggplant and Pasta Recipe

Slice the eggplant in 1 inch (2 – 1/2 centimeter) strips or cubes if you prefer.
Toss the sliced eggplant with a little salt and let sit for about 20 minutes, (this is to bring out any bitterness in the eggplant).
I often read that you should rinse the eggplant before using, but my mother-in-law never did so I don’t either, that way you don’t need to add any extra salt to the recipe.
Saute the eggplant, garlic, herbs, olive oil and a little water together on medium low heat. And a dash or two of hot pepper flakes.
Cook your pasta separately and always al dente.
Add the cooked pasta and half a ladle of pasta water to the hot cooked eggplant and saute together for a couple of minutes. Serve immediately with a sprinkling of freshly grated Parmesan cheese.

What’s the best Pasta to use?

When I make this pasta and eggplant I prefer to use a pasta called Bucatini.

Whenever I make this dish I think, yup now I know why I like it so much! And don’t forget to add a little sprinkling of freshly grated Parmesan Cheese. Buon Appetito!

eggplant and pasta on a plate with parmesan cheese

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