This Rigatoni with Swordfish, Tomato, and Eggplant Fries from Marc Vetri's Rustic Italian Food is not only a genius plate of pasta filled with fresh, unexpected flavors but it's also one that can be assembled in the time it takes for your rigatoni to cook up perfectly al dente. More
A Turkish-inspired dish with a ragu as complex as bolognese that can be made in a fraction of the time. The principal spice blend in the sauce is called janissary spice, the product of Turkish spice blender in Istanbul, but it's easy to replicate at home. Seek out maraş chiles, which are intensely sweet, not that hot, and carry the rich flavors of sun-warmed tomatoes with hints of red bell pepper for the blend. You can find them at Cambridge's Formaggio Kitchen and Oakland's Market Hall foods (both sell online as well). Easier-to-find aleppo makes a good, if not more tart and spicy substitute. More
In a twist on Pasta Alla Norma, penne is topped with eggplant, mozzarella, basil, and a light tomato sauce. More
[Photographs: J. Kenji Lopez-Alt] For the four weeks between January 14th and February 11th, I'm adopting a completely vegan lifestyle. Every weekday I'll be updating my progress with a diary entry and a recipe. For past posts, check here! Note:... More
[Photographs: J. Kenji Lopez-Alt] Note: This recipe makes more eggplant mayo than you need. The leftovers can be stored in a covered container in the fridge for up to 1 week. About the author: J. Kenji Lopez-Alt is the Managing... More
Each type of eggplant has its own unique character and consequently its own style of preparation. The fuller, dark purple ones are roasted, the longer lavender ones are sliced and fried and the small black ones become tiny morsels bursting with the flavors of stuffed spices. More
Eggplant takes well to the dark, sultry flavors of urfa biber, all the more so when charred first over blistering heat. Use a high-fat strained yogurt for the sauce, or it might break. More
Young, firm eggplants are the best for this dish. Cook them just till they char and become tender, any longer and they will turn mushy. After a few seconds, they will absorb all the oil in the pan; they will cook just fine without the need for more. More
I've had incredible success with every recipe I've tried from Takashi's Noodles, written by the celebrated Chicago chef Takashi Yagihashi. His instructions for soba, ramen, and udon have all been authentic, utterly delicious, and relatively easy to prepare at home. But the same level of authenticity disappears in the back of the book, when he starts dishing out wacky recipes for Italian pasta that are blessedly free of tradition. More
