Ingredients

• 200g penne pasta
• 1 small eggplant
• 1 packet cherry tomatoes
• 2 ripe tomatoes
• 3 cloves of garlic
• 200g fresh mozzarella
• 50g basil
• 100ml olive oil
• salt and pepper

 

Method

1. To prepare, chop the tomatoes roughly and put in a pan or casserole dish with some salt and pepper and two garlic cloves. Wait until the tomatoes release their water and keep cooking until half of the water is reduced. Blend in a mixer or with the hand blender, strain and keep aside. This will be your homemade tomato coulis
2. Cut the cherry tomatoes in half and keep aside on a spare plate
3. Dice the eggplant in rough cubes and add a little salt to release water and soften them. Dice the mozzarella and finely chop one clove of garlic
4. Bring a large pot of salted water to the boil. Add penne pasta and cook for eleven minutes until al dente (cook for slighter longer if you prefer softer pasta)
5. In a large frying pan heat the oil, add the chopped garlic and the eggplant and sauté
6. Add the cherry tomatoes and season with salt and pepper. Tear the basil and add to the sauce
7. Once the cherry tomatoes are soft, add the tomato coulis to the mixture. Allow to simmer for two minutes and then add your Certo penne pasta to the mixture. Season to taste
8. Toss the mixture in the pan until the pasta becomes glazed. Add in the mozzarella and stir quickly. Remove from the flame and drizzle some olive oil on top
9. Serve instantly so the mozzarella has begun to melt

 

This recipe serves three and comes from chef Hubert, Certo, Souk Qaryat Al Beri.