Ingredients
- 1½ pounds globe eggplants (about 2 small), trimmed and cut into ½-inch slices
- ¼ cup + 1 tablespoon olive oil, divided
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- ¾ cup white or yellow onion, finely chopped
- 4 ounces (1 link) pork or turkey Italian sausage or ground pork
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon Melissa’s chopped garlic
- 1 anchovy, finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon red chile flakes
- 1 teaspoon Melissa’s Grinders Italian Seasoning
- 1 14.5 ounce can diced fire-roasted tomatoes, blended (into tomato sauce)
- 1 cup water or broth
- Italian parsley, for garnish
- Cooked linguine, for plating
Directions
- Brush eggplant slices with ¼ cup of olive and season with salt and pepper. Grill eggplant over medium high heat until lightly browned and cooked through. Cool. Chop in ½-inch dice. Set aside.
- Over medium high heat, heat remaining tablespoon of olive oil in a large sauté pan. Add onion and pork and cook until onion is softened and meat is cooked through.
- Add garlic, anchovy, chile flakes and Italian seasoning. Continue stirring so it doesn’t stick and cook for about 1 minute. Add tomato sauce and broth and cook for 3 to 4 minutes or until sauce has thickened slightly. Remove from heat and stir in eggplant cubes. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Serve with cooked linguini and garnish with Italian parsley.
Grilled Eggplant with Savory Italian Ragu
This savory ragù is made with eggplant, tomatoes and bell peppers, cooked together, low and slow in a bath of olive oil and roasted garlic.
Ingredients
- 1½ pounds globe eggplants about 2 small, trimmed and cut into ½-inch slices
- ¼ cup + 1 tablespoon olive oil divided
- Salt and pepper to taste
- ¾ cup white or yellow onion finely chopped
- 4 ounces 1 link pork or turkey Italian sausage or ground pork
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon Melissa’s chopped garlic
- 1 anchovy finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon red chile flakes
- 1 teaspoon Melissa’s Grinders Italian Seasoning
- 1 14.5 ounce can diced fire-roasted tomatoes blended (into tomato sauce)
- 1 cup water or broth
- Italian parsley for garnish
- Cooked linguine for plating
Instructions
- Brush eggplant slices with ¼ cup of olive and season with salt and pepper.
- Grill eggplant over medium high heat until lightly browned and cooked through. Cool. Chop in ½-inch dice. Set aside.
- Over medium high heat, heat remaining tablespoon of olive oil in a large sauté pan.
- Add onion and pork and cook until onion is softened and meat is cooked through.
- Add garlic, anchovy, chile flakes and Italian seasoning. Continue stirring so it doesn’t stick and cook for about 1 minute.
- Add tomato sauce and broth and cook for 3 to 4 minutes or until sauce has thickened slightly.
- Remove from heat and stir in eggplant cubes. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Serve with cooked linguini and garnish with Italian parsley.