This baked entire wheat pasta alla Siciliana recipe pairs eggplant, tomatoes, basil and mozzarella with entire wheat pasta tubes. It’s straightforward to make, meatless and nutritious. Serve it as a aspect dish or principal dish. Take it to potlucks and cookouts. Everybody will love this pasta bake that’s filled with Mediterranean taste!
What does ‘alla Siciliana’ imply?
Recipes described as ‘alla Siciliana’ are these which can be made with components typical of Sicilian delicacies and utilizing Sicilian cooking strategies. In actual fact, ‘alla Siciliana’ means in Sicilian model.
There are a selection of Italian pasta recipes ‘alla Siciliana’ together with pasta bakes like this entire wheat pasta recipe. The most typical components in Sicilian model dishes are tomatoes, eggplant, olives, capers, anchovies and breadcrumbs.
If you happen to like pasta dishes made with these components, do try my pasta alla Norma recipe, pasta with swordfish and pasta alla Parmigiana. The latter consists of virtually the identical components as this recipe, however the dish is just not baked, and the pasta isn’t entire wheat.
Is entire wheat pasta more healthy?
Entire wheat (additionally referred to as entire grain) pasta is unquestionably more healthy than regular pasta. It has extra fiber and extra dietary worth. It is because entire wheat flour accommodates your entire grain kernel, the germ, endosperm and bran, so entire wheat pasta has larger ranges of nutritional vitamins and minerals like magnesium, iron, B‑nutritional vitamins, zinc, phosphorus, and antioxidants.
Entire wheat pasta additionally has much less energy than common pasta and will be extra filling as a result of it takes longer to digest. Nevertheless, there may be undoubtedly a distinction in style and texture between the 2 sorts of pasta. Some folks discover entire wheat pasta to be a bit grainy or bitter. However, I feel a lot depends upon the model of pasta, the sauce you serve it with and the cooking methodology.
In fact, you may make this baked pasta alla Siciliana with common pasta tubes as a substitute of entire wheat.
Components for baked entire wheat pasta alla Siciliana.
Essential components.
Pasta: This recipe requires entire wheat pasta tubes. I used mezze maniche made by Garofalo, pasta makers from Gragnano, Naples. These pasta tubes have grooves (rigate) and are made with 100% Italian natural wheat. You should use different manufacturers and different sorts of entire wheat pasta tubes equivalent to penne rigate or rigatoni.
Eggplant: Eggplants are a typical Sicilian ingredient utilized in many Southern Italian recipes. I used zebra eggplants (often known as graffiti eggplants). These are barely sweeter and fewer bitter than common eggplants. You may also use common Italian eggplant or if yow will discover them the spherical Sicilian eggplants which are literally my favorites!
Tomatoes: This recipe requires canned peeled tomatoes or passata. I used canned peeled cherry tomatoes.
Mozzarella: Contemporary mozzarella cheese is finest. I used mozzarella di bufala (created from water buffalo milk) however common cow’s milk mozzarella is ideal too. N.B. I don’t like to make use of prepared shredded mozzarella as this has an anti-caking agent to cease it clumping and it doesn’t soften in addition to recent entire mozzarella.
Different components.
Basil: Contemporary basil is added to the baked entire wheat pasta dish while you’re assembling it. You may also serve with some extra recent basil leaves if you would like for an added recent herby taste Dried basil isn’t advisable.
Olive Oil: I used olive oil to fry the eggplant and make the sauce. Nevertheless, you should use one other vegetable oil to fry the eggplant as you have to rather a lot and olive oil will be costly. Then use a bit olive oil only for the sauce.
Parmigiano: Freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano or Grana cheese can each be used. Freshly grated has the perfect taste. However neither are vegetarian. Use a vegetarian parmesan cheese to maintain this recipe meatless.
Optionally available components: If you happen to like your tomato sauce a bit spicy, you possibly can add some crimson pepper flakes (peperoncino) to it.
Step by Step Directions.
Put together the components: Lower the mozzarella into small cubes and do the identical with the eggplant after washing it.
Step 1. Warmth some oil in a deep frying pan or massive skillet and fry the eggplant cubes till golden brown on all sides. Take away the eggplant from the new oil utilizing a slotted spoon and place in a bowl lined with kitchen paper to empty the surplus oil.
Step 2. If you happen to used olive oil and there is nonetheless so much within the skillet, pour some out leaving simply sufficient to make the tomato sauce. Warmth the oil once more if crucial and add the canned peeled tomatoes or passata and a few basil leaves. Simmer over a medium warmth for about 20 minutes. Add salt and freshly floor black pepper to style.
Step 3. Whereas the sauce is simmering, put a pot of water on to boil for the entire wheat pasta. Add salt as soon as it begins boling and produce to a boil once more. Cook dinner the pasta very al dente (about 2 minutes lower than the package deal directions). When the pasta is prepared drain it and add it to the skillet with the sauce.
Step 4. Combine the pasta sauce and cooked pasta collectively after which make a layer of pasta and sauce within the backside of an oblong or spherical baking dish or casserole dish. Add among the eggplant cubes and high with mozzarella and grated cheese.
Step 5.Make a second layer of pasta and tomato sauce. High once more with eggplant, then mozzarella and grated cheese. Lastly add some recent basil leaves.
Step 6. Bake your entire wheat pasta with eggplant in a pre-heated oven at 180°c (356°F) for about 20 minutes or till the cheese on high has melted. Let your baked entire wheat pasta with eggplant relaxation for 2-3 minutes earlier than serving.
FAQs
Though this was once widespread apply, mentioned to be essential to take away bitterness, these days many cooks not do it as fashionable varities of eggplant are much less bitter than prior to now. I virtually by no means salt my eggplants.
This recipe is vegetarian if you happen to use vegetarian cheese. Mozzarella isn’t all the time vegetarian. Some mozzarella accommodates animal rennet. Nevertheless, many fashionable mozzarella varieties use microbial or vegetable rennet. Test the label. Italian Parmigiano and Grana comprise animal rennet so use a vegetarian parmesan as a substitute.
Sure, you possibly can assemble this dish within the morning for the night, and even the day earlier than. However, it is best to attend till the cooked pasta and sauce are room temperature. In any other case, the cheese will begin to soften. Cowl the dish with plastic wrap and preserve it within the fridge till you might be able to bake and serve.
What to do with leftovers.
Leftover baked entire wheat pasta with eggplant will be stored within the fridge in an hermetic container for 2-3 days. To reheat, achieve this both within the microwave for 1-2 minutes or in a sizzling oven for 10-Quarter-hour coated with aluminum foil to stop the highest from burning!
Pin for later.
Let me know what you assume.
Regardless of its identify, this baked entire wheat eggplant pasta recipe initially comes from Naples. Nevertheless, the mixture of eggplant and tomatoes is often Sicilian too. In actual fact, yow will discover comparable dishes all through Southern Italy. So to me, this can be a scrumptious Mediterranaen pasta bake! It is a actually good recipe to function a meal or a aspect dish.
If you happen to attempt it, I’d like to know what you assume. You possibly can write a remark right here on the weblog or on the Pasta Mission Fb web page. Your suggestions is way appreciated!
I am certain it will grow to be a favourite recipe for all events.
Buon appetito!
Baked Entire Wheat Pasta with Eggplant alla Siciliana.
This baked entire wheat pasta with eggplant alla Siciliana recipe pairs eggplant, tomatoes, basil and mozzarella with entire wheat pasta tubes. It’s straightforward to make, meatless and nutritious. Serve it as a aspect dish or principal dish. Take it to potlucks and cookouts.
Components
- 12 ounces entire wheat pasta tubes
- 1.5 kilos canned peeled tomatoes or passata
- 2 eggplants minimize into cubes
- 12 ounces recent mozzarella minimize into cubes
- 1 handful recent basil leaves
- salt to cook dinner pasta and to style
- freshly floor black pepper. to style
- 2 ounces Parmigiano Reggiano or grana freshly grated or vegetarian parmesan.
- 8.5 flozs vegetable oil to fry eggplant (I exploit olive oil)
- 2 tablespoons additional virgin olive oil. to cook dinner sauce if olive oil not used for eggplant.
Directions
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Put together the components: Lower the mozzarella into small cubes and do the identical with the eggplant after washing it.
-
Warmth some oil in a deep frying pan or massive skillet and fry the eggplant cubes till golden brown on all sides. Take away the eggplant from the new oil utilizing a slotted spoon and place in a bowl lined with kitchen paper to empty the surplus oil.
-
If you happen to used olive oil and there is nonetheless so much within the skillet, pour some out leaving simply sufficient to make the tomato sauce. Warmth the oil once more if crucial and add the canned peeled tomatoes or passata and a few basil leaves. Break the tomatoes up with a fork and simmer over a medium warmth for about 20 minutes. Add salt and freshly floor black pepper to style.
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Whereas the sauce is simmering, put a pot of water on to boil for the entire wheat pasta. Add salt as soon as it begins boling and produce to a boil once more. Cook dinner the pasta very al dente (about 2 minutes lower than the package deal directions). When the pasta is prepared drain it and add it to the skillet with the sauce.
-
Combine the pasta sauce and cooked pasta collectively after which make a layer of pasta and sauce within the backside of an oblong or spherical baking dish or casserole dish. Add among the eggplant cubes and high with mozzarella and grated cheese.
-
Make a second layer of pasta and tomato sauce. High once more with eggplant, then mozzarella and grated cheese. Lastly add some recent basil leaves to the highest.
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Bake your entire wheat pasta with eggplant in a pre-heated oven at 180°c (356°F) for about 20 minutes or till the cheese on high has melted. Let your baked entire wheat pasta with eggplant relaxation for 2-3 minutes earlier than serving.
Forestall your display from going darkish
Notes
See principal content material for what to do with leftovers and different suggestions.
Vitamin
Energy: 743kcalCarbohydrates: 76gProtein: 38gFats: 32gSaturated Fats: 15gPolyunsaturated Fats: 2gMonounsaturated Fats: 12gLdl cholesterol: 77mgSodium: 1008mgPotassium: 923mgFiber: 15gSugar: 15gVitamin A: 964IUVitamin C: 21mgCalcium: 672mgIron: 3mg
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