Recipe: Penne with Grilled Tomatoes and Eggplant

Penne with Grilled Tomatoes and Eggplant
Source: Adam Wetstein
Makes 4 servings

This dish is delicious warm, but it can also be prepared ahead, stored in a covered container and served at room temperature at a picnic. Either way, it's terrific.

1 (1-pound) eggplant, trimmed, cut crosswise into 1/2-inch-thick rounds
1 pound tomatoes, halved lengthwise
Non-stick olive oil spray

8 ounces penne pasta

1/4 cup chopped fresh Italian parsley
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 large garlic clove, pressed
1/4 cup freshly grated pecorino Romano cheese (about 1 ounce)

Prepare barbecue (medium heat). Spray both sides of eggplant slices and tomato halves with olive oil spray. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Grill eggplant slices until brown and tender and tomato halves until charred, turning occasionally, about 10 minutes for eggplant slices and about 7 minutes for tomato halves. Cool.

Cut eggplant into 1/2-inch-wide strips. Cut tomatoes into 1-inch pieces.

Meanwhile, cook pasta in large pot of boiling salted water until tender but still firm to bite. Drain pasta. Return pasta to same pot.

Add eggplant, tomatoes, parsley, olive oil and garlic to pasta and toss to blend. Stir in grated cheese. Season to taste with salt and
pepper. Serve warm or at room temperature. (Can be prepared 2 hours ahead.)