SICILIAN AUBERGINE, PINE NUT & RAISIN FUSILLI

Sicilian aubergine, pine nut & raisin fusilli image

Sicilians love aubergines cooked every which way. Try them in this summery pasta dish

Provided by Thomasina Miers

Time 55m

Number Of Ingredients 15

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Ingredients

4-5 tbsp olive oil
1 medium red onion , finely sliced
2 garlic cloves , finely sliced
1 small dried red chilli , chopped
handful oregano or marjoram, roughly chopped
2 medium aubergines , diced into 2.5cm/1in cubes
50g raisins
4 large tomatoes , chopped
2 tsp tomato purée
2 tbsp baby capers , rinsed, drained and roughly chopped
2-3 tbsp good quality red wine vinegar
400g fusilli
small handful mint , roughly chopped
50g pine nuts , toasted
aged ricotta or vegetarian Parmesan-style cheese (try Bookhams 'Not just a pasta cheese'), to serve

Steps:

In a heavy based pan, heat ½ tbsp of oil and gently cook the onion, garlic and chilli until soft with half the oregano.
Meanwhile, heat 3-4 tbsp of oil in another frying pan and start browning the aubergines. Once cooked, add to the onion mixture. Fry the raisins in another ½ tbsp oil and, when they have puffed up, add to the aubergine mix. Add the tomatoes, purée and rest of the oregano. Cook on a medium heat for 15-20 mins so all the flavours come together.
Finally add the capers and the vinegar and leave on a low heat while you cook the pasta in plenty of boiling, salted water. If the mixture becomes very thick add 100ml of water. Toss the pasta through the aubergine sauce and sprinkle with fresh mint and the pine nuts. Let everyone grate over their own cheese.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 636 calories, Fat 23 grams fat, SaturatedFat 3 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 96 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 21 grams sugar, Fiber 9 grams fiber, Protein 18 grams protein, Sodium 0.56 milligram of sodium