Pasta ‘Ncasciata is a traditional Sicilian baked pasta layered with eggplant, rich tomato sauce, cheese and savoury fillings.
Generous, comforting and full of character, it is the kind of dish made for sharing around the table. Rich tomato flavour, smoky cheese and tender eggplant come together in every forkful, creating a deeply satisfying taste of Sicilian tradition.
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Pasta Ncasciata Sicilia is a tasty traditional Sicilian dish
1
Preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius or 160 degrees Celsius fan forced.
2
Trim the stalks from the eggplants and slice lengthways into even slices about 5mm thick. Sprinkle the slices with salt and place on a rack or colander to drain off excess liquid for at least 1 hour.
3
While the eggplants drain, in a frypan sauté the garlic in the oil.
4
Add passata, water and tomato paste. Season with salt & pepper and simmer stirring occasionally over low-medium heat for 20 minutes.
5
Remove from heat and stir in the chopped basil. Set aside.
6
Pat eggplant slices with a paper towel to soak up excess water. Spray eggplant slices with oil and fry on a heavy grilled frypan for 2-3 minutes on each side.
7
Oil a 30cm heatproof bowl and line it with the eggplant slices. Slightly overlap the slices so there are no spaces. If you have eggplant leftover, finely chop it and set aside.
8
Cook the pasta in a large pot of salted water until ‘al dente'. Drain well and place in a large bowl.
9
Add the sauce, salami, cheeses, eggs, pine nuts, parsley and any extra chopped eggplant. Gently stir through until all the ingredients have combined.
10
Spoon the pasta mixture into the eggplant lined bowl and press down gently to eliminate any gaps. Fold over any ends of the eggplant.
11
Cover and bake for 20 minutes. Rest for at least 15 minutes after the dish has been removed from the oven.
12
Place a large serving platter on top of the bowl and quickly turn both the bowl and plate over. Remove the bowl slowly off the plate to reveal your Pasta Ncasciata Sicilia. Serve with extra parmesan cheese and chopped chilli.
Using both passata and double concentrated tomato paste creates a sauce with depth and balance. The passata provides a smooth tomato base, while the tomato paste adds extra intensity and richness, helping the sauce stand up to the cheese, eggplant and other fillings.
