Penne With Eggplant
Grrrrrgh!
Course : Italian
From: HungryMonster.com
Serves: 4
 

Ingredients:

12 ounces penne
1 medium eggplant
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 small onion -- coarsely chopped
1/2 cup thin sliced white mushrooms
1 1/2 cups tomato sauce
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 medium dried bay leaf
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 cup dry red wine
1/2 cup shredded part-skim -- mozzarella cheese
1 teaspoon salt to taste
1 teaspoon pepper to taste
 

Preparation:

1. Cook penne according to package directions until al dente. Drain, reserving half cup of the cooking water. Set both penne and water aside. 2. Peel eggplant and cut into 1/3" cubes. In a large, nonstick pan over medium heat, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil. Add eggplant and sauté‚5 minutes, or until browned and translucent. Transfer eggplant to a bowl. Set aside. 3. In the same pan over medium heat, add remaining olive oil and sauté‚onions and mushrooms for 3 minutes, or until onion is transparent and mushrooms are darkish-brown. Stir in cooked eggplant, tomato sauce, basil, bay leaf, oregano and wine. 4. Cook 10 minutes longer, reducing heat if mixture begins to boil. If sauce is too thick, slowly pour in a little reserved water. Remove bay leaf and discard. Stir in penne and cheese. Cook, stirring, until cheese is melted. Season with salt and pepper. Serve hot.