Involtini di Melanzane (Rolled Eggplant)

These eggplant rolls hide a little nest of angel hair pasta inside, with tomato sauce and Parmesan bringing everything together in the oven. The number of rolls depends on the size of the eggplants and the usable slices.

Involtini di Melanzane (Rolled Eggplant)

Fried eggplant slices wrapped around angel hair pasta, baked with tomato sauce and Parmesan. Serve the rolls as a main course or as part of a larger meal.

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Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 50 minutes mins

Servings: 5 servings

Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients

  

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• 2-3 Large Eggplants (Sicilian Eggplants are preferred)
• Vegetable Oil, for frying
• 2 cups Tomato Sauce
• 10 oz. Angel Hair Pasta
• Parmesan Cheese, finely grated
• Olive Oil

Method

 

1. Cut the eggplants lengthwise into 1/2-inch-thick slices for rolling.
2. Heat vegetable oil in a large pan. When hot, fry eggplant slices in batches. Flip halfway, cook until golden. Dry on paper towels.
3. Cook angel hair pasta in well salted boiling water for 1 minute. It needs to be very al dente as it will continue to cook later in the oven. Toss with pasta sauce and parmesan.
4. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spread some of the tomato sauce over the base of a baking dish and drizzle with olive oil. Place a small nest of dressed pasta on each eggplant slice, roll up and arrange seam-side down in the dish. Secure with toothpicks if needed. Pack the rolls snugly together, then top with the remaining sauce and grated Parmesan.
5. Bake for 20-25 minutes, until cheese is melted.

Notes

Makes about 5 servings. The number of rolls depends on the size of the eggplants and the slices. Use the 2 cups of tomato sauce across the pasta, the base of the dish and the topping. For a vegetarian version, choose meat-free sauce and a vegetarian hard cheese.

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Cooking notes

Leave the pasta underdone. The pasta continues cooking in the oven. Follow the brief initial cooking step so it does not become overly soft during baking.

Keep track of the sauce. The two cups of tomato sauce are shared between the pasta, the bottom of the baking dish and the topping.

Make the rolls easy to serve. Place the seam underneath to help hold each roll together. If you use toothpicks, remove them before serving. For a vegetarian version, use meat-free sauce and a suitable vegetarian hard cheese.

What to cook next

• Sicilian Burgers
• Tomato Tart