Spaghetti With Roasted Eggplant and Cherry Tomatoes

A Tyler Florence recipe from How To Boil Water-Everyday Perfection. Need I say more?

• Ready In: 35 mins
• Serves: 4

Ingredients

• Tomato Sauce

• 1⁄4 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1  onion, chopped
• 6  garlic cloves, minced
• 2 (28 ounce) cans whole canned tomatoes, drained
• 1⁄4-1⁄2 fresh basil leaf, torn
• 1  teaspoon sugar (optional)
•  salt & freshly ground black pepper
• 2  small eggplants, stemmed but not peeled
• 2 -3  garlic cloves, chopped
•  salt & freshly ground black pepper
•  extra virgin olive oil
• 1  lb  dried spaghetti (or angel hair pasta-I like to use whole wheat)
• 2  cups cherry tomatoes, stemmed
• 1⁄2 cup  freshly grated  pecorino cheese, plus extra for serving (or use Parmesan)
•  fresh basil leaf, torn
• 1  pinch red pepper flakes (or to taste)

Directions

1. Make the tomato sauce:
2. Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook, stirring, for 7-10 minutes until the vegetables are soft but not browned. Add the tomatoes, crushing them in your hand to break them up. Add the basil and sugar, if using and season with salt and pepper.
3. Cook until the sauce is reduced and thickened, about 10 minutes.
4. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
5. Cut the eggplants crosswise into 1/2" thick rounds and put them in a large bowl. Add the garlic, salt, and pepper, and drizzle liberally with olive oil. Toss to coat, drizzling in more oil if you needed. Arrange the slices in a single layer on a baking sheet and roast 20 minutes until eggplants are very tender.
6. While the eggplants are roasting, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil for pasta. About 5 minutes before the eggplants are done, drop the pasta into the boiling water and cook until al dente, 6-8 minutes. Drain. Bring the tomato sauce to a simmer and pour it into a large pasta bowl.
7. Add the drained spaghetti and stir to coat with the sauce. Fold in the eggplants and the cherry tomatoes. Add the cheese, basil and red pepper flakes and another drizzle of oil, and toss gently.
8. Serve immediately and pass extra cheese at the table. Enjoy!