
RECIPE — What On Earth Is This Mess Of A Dish? Spicy Eggplant And Pasta With Pancetta? It’s A Culinary Disaster Waiting To Happen!
Everything you see I owe to spaghetti. — Sophia Loren
Spicy Eggplant and Pasta with Pancetta Recipe:
Ingredients:
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- ⅓ pound pancetta bacon, diced
- 1 eggplant, diced
- 1 (28 ounce) jar marinara sauce
- 1 (10.5 ounce) container cherry tomatoes, halved
- ½ cup red wine
- 2 teaspoons red pepper flakes, or to taste
- 2 teaspoons ground black pepper, or to taste
- 1 teaspoon garlic salt, or to taste
- 1 pinch white sugar, or to taste (optional)
- 1 pinch ground white pepper, or to taste
- 1 (16 ounce) package penne pasta
Directions:
- Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add pancetta; cook until browned on the edges, about 5 minutes. Add eggplant and remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil; cook until eggplant is slightly softened, about 5 minutes.
- Pour marinara sauce, tomatoes, and wine into the skillet. Add red pepper flakes, black pepper, garlic salt, sugar, and white pepper. Stir and cover. Let sauce simmer until flavors combine, about 20 minutes.
- Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add penne and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 11 minutes. Drain; mix with the sauce.
Cook’s Note: The sugar may or may not be necessary depending on how sweet your marinara sauce is.
Nutrition Facts (per serving):
- 537 Calories
- 16g Fat
- 81g Carbs
- 17g Protein
Wine Pairing
Pair this spicy eggplant and pancetta pasta with a bold red wine like a Syrah or a Zinfandel. A specific wine producer recommendation for this dish would be Seghesio Family Vineyards Zinfandel. The robust and spicy flavors in the wine will complement the richness of the pancetta and the heat of the red pepper flakes, creating a delightful culinary experience.
Bon Appétit
If you’ve managed to pull off a passable rendition of Spicy Eggplant and Pasta with Pancetta, without turning it into a flavorless, soggy mess, then you might just have a fighting chance. Hungry for more recipes that won’t leave your taste buds in a state of despair? Hit that subscribe button for a journey through the world of palate-pleasing delights. And if by some miracle, you’ve cracked the code to creating a dish that’s bursting with a spicy, savory symphony of flavors, share your culinary wisdom in the comments. Or, perhaps in the spirit of gastronomic enlightenment, it’s best to quietly savor your Spicy Eggplant and Pasta with Pancetta, knowing that sometimes the best meals are the ones that leave you hungry for more.
