Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Tomato Aubergine Pasta: The Encapsulation of Flavor








This is your master, Captain Sensational, speaking.  

You are being reprimanded on the Internet because people need to know that your friends in other bodies can also turn on their masters. I know I take you all for granted sometimes. I appreciate whatever it is that I'm tasting, touching, smelling, hearing or seeing but I never actually bother giving notice to those things that allow me to taste, touch, smell, hear or see. You, Senses, are never to be taken for granted again. But you. YOU got your revenge. You left me when I had a bad cold. When I needed you the most. When I needed food to taste good to get my strength back. I needed you really badly but you decided to throw a hissy fit and escaped with Sneeze. Shame on you. Really. I didn't know I could lose my sense of smell or taste completely for over a week. But then again, I realized a few things when you left on your booger-infested vacation. I realized that the way cappuccino feels in my mouth is the same way the sea feels, with the bubbles and the heaviness. I realized that spicy food made me feel better because I could at least feel the tingling, if not the taste. I realize now that I'm too tired to think of more realizations. So, please behave from now on, Senses. And I'm sorry again for taking you for granted. 
Love and Resentment,
Captain Sensational 


Today, we need something with flavor. Strong flavor. Bursting flavor. Intense flavor. Unmistakable flavor. Developed flavor. Yummy flavor. Commanding flavor. Flavor that doesn't allow people to say, "Ewwww. Egggplaaant." Play the adjectives game with me?
Serves: 6 sides (I bothered to see how many servings it covers today! Hooray!)
You'll need:
500 grams of pasta
1 large aubergine, cubed
2 tablespoons of olive oil (You could also use any kind of vegetable oil. I used a garlic chili  olive oil this time but usually use EVOO.)
2 cans of diced tomatoes (You could also use whole. I want mine cubey.)
1 tablespoon of tomato paste
3 tablespoons of hot water
1 medium onion, diced
1 tablespoon of white vinegar
4 to 5 cloves of garlic, chopped
1/2-1 tablespoon of sugar (depending on how acidic your sauce turns out to be.)
1 teaspoon of chili flakes
2 tablespoons of grated Parmesan
Salt and pepper to taste


You can make this in a pan or a pot. Your choice. Heat your olive oil over medium heat. Add your diced onions and let them sweat for a couple of minutes. Don't let it burn. 
Now, add HALF of your aubergine (or if you'd like to call it eggplant, go ahead; but my momma taught me fancy words). Let it sauté for 8-10 minutes until it gets a little tender. Fry the other half of the aubergine separately until it browns up. Take it out of the oil, drain the excess oil and leave it on the side to cool. 
Add the diced tomatoes and let it simmer for 2 minutes. Dump in the vinegar, chopped garlic, tomato paste and hot water. Mix it all in and sprinkle the sugar all over the top and let it seep in. Add the chili flakes, the fried aubergine, grated Parmesan then add your salt and pepper to taste. I won't tell you how much to add. My salt intake is not to be taken lightly. Sigh. Leave it to simmer for 10 to 20 minutes. The time yours takes depends on whether your aubergine is tender enough and if your sauce has thickened. If your sauce becomes too thick, thin it out with hot water or, even better, hot pasta water. You should boil your pasta in salted water once you've left the sauce to simmer.  
Notes:
Garnish with Parmesan or fresh parsley. The parsley just works. I didn't have any on hand though so Parmesan it is. 
You don't have to fry half of the aubergine. It works wonderfully both ways. I just prefer the mix of both for extra FLAVOR (word of the day).    
This heats up really well too. Saucy times! :D
  

24 comments:

  1. Gorgeous pictures and delicious pasta :)

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  2. Just came across your group on FB, and accordingly landed up here. Impressive efforts! Am not big on cooking but you make it look so easy and tasty that I might try it out!

    All the best,

    A

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  3. I just love your blog - and this looks amazing!! Your photos are spectacular, and the recipe is no different. Must try!

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  4. Healthyexposures: Thank you! Drop by some other time. You might find something else you'll like. :)

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  5. OMG...your pics are awesome :)))
    really loved your high quality recipes and blog !!
    am thinking of buying a new camera after I saw your pics .:))
    am a newbie..since when do you blog??
    nice to meet you.
    nesrine.

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  6. Hi Nesrine, thanks for passing by here. :) I'm glad you liked the stuff you found. You can take great photos with a regular point and shoot. Read about photography and make sure the light around you is good. I've been blogging for a long time but I started Buttered Up in March of this year. :)

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  7. This is all so beautiful. I love your shots and your light.

    Laura

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  8. Hi Laura, Thank you. I appreciate what you said. :)

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  9. Thanks for dropping by my blog

    I love aubergines. My 3 year old daughter calls them aubergines too, refuses to go by eggplants. LOL.

    BTW, There are quite a sum of Malaysian recipe bloggers, blogging from Malaysia or other countries. I have a whole list of them on my blogroll.

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  10. Hey Wendy, I'll check out the list. Thanks. :)

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  11. Wow, this is a fantastic recipe. I love the combination of Aubergines and tomatoes, so perfect together.

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  12. Spicie Foodie: Thank you. They really do complement each other. :)

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  13. This looks so yummy! I love eggplant. I had a couple slow producers in the garden this summer, and now in October, when winter is about a week away, they're covered with tiny buds!

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  14. Hey Bobbi, thanks for stopping by. I've never actually grown any of my own fruit/vegetable and find it fascinating that a lot of others do it at home.

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  15. You have me totally craving pasta now. And I just ate a huge dinner! Your photos make that pasta dish just leap off the screen.

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  16. Hey Carolyn, thanks for dropping by. I'm a big fan of your stuff. :)

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  17. Your blog is amazeballs! Love the photography, it's seriously lick-the-screen good :) :)

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  18. Hey Emma, I love your blog. I'm there right now. Thank you. x.

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  19. Hello there. This is my first time here but I just wanted to say that, OMG I LOVE THE THINGS YOU COOK/BAKE. And I love your photos & your blog layout. They look amazing!! It kind of tempts me to cook something tonight (but I suck at it so maybe not) May I just ask where you're from,? (Or did you write that somewhere but I missed it?)

    xoxo

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  20. Hey Adele! Your comment put such a huge smile on my face. I'm half Egyptian, half Indian. I just checked out your blog. Thanks for the referral. So awesome of you. Come back when you have the time. :)

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  21. This is a scrumptious dish... I love eggplants!

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  22. Thanks, Cherine. I'm a big fan of them too. x.

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