Main courses
Pasta Bake with Eggplant, Tomatoes, Almonds & Cheddar Crumbs
Ingredients
- 200g pasta shells
- Olive oil
- 4 cloves of garlic, crushed
- 1 onion, diced
- 1 large eggplant, diced
- 12 cherry tomatoes, halved
- 2 tsp capers, rinsed
- 12 basil leaves, torn into small pieces
- 1 lemon, zest
- 60g Kerrygold Original Irish Butter, melted
- 100g whole almonds, roughly chopped
- 100g panko breadcrumbs
- 85g Dubliner Cheddar, finely grated
- Sea salt & Freshly ground pepper
Directions
1. Pre-heat the oven to 180°C / gas mark 4
2. Place a saucepan of water over high heat and bring to a boil, season with sea salt. When the water is boiling, reduce to a simmer and stir in the pasta shells. After 5 minutes, when the pasta is still al dente, remove from the heat and drain the pasta.
3. Place a skillet or frying pan over medium heat, add a tablespoon of olive oil, follow by adding the garlic and onions and cook for three minutes. Then add the eggplant and cook for a further three minutes.
4. Sit in the tomatoes, capers and pasta and mix until the ingredients have combined in the pan.
5. Mix together the finely grated cheddar, chopped almonds, melted butter and breadcrumbs and sprinkle over the top of the pasta until it is covered.
6. Put the pasta in the oven for about 15 minutes or until the top is bubbling and crispy.
2. Place a saucepan of water over high heat and bring to a boil, season with sea salt. When the water is boiling, reduce to a simmer and stir in the pasta shells. After 5 minutes, when the pasta is still al dente, remove from the heat and drain the pasta.
3. Place a skillet or frying pan over medium heat, add a tablespoon of olive oil, follow by adding the garlic and onions and cook for three minutes. Then add the eggplant and cook for a further three minutes.
4. Sit in the tomatoes, capers and pasta and mix until the ingredients have combined in the pan.
5. Mix together the finely grated cheddar, chopped almonds, melted butter and breadcrumbs and sprinkle over the top of the pasta until it is covered.
6. Put the pasta in the oven for about 15 minutes or until the top is bubbling and crispy.
