Ziti and Eggplant

Directions

Ingredients :

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 eggplant

peeled and cut into 1/2-inch cubes

1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes

2 tablespoons minced fresh basil

ground black pepper to taste

1 ¼ teaspoons white sugar (Optional)

1 (7 ounce) jar roasted red pepper

drained and cut into strips

1 (16 ounce) package dry ziti pasta

3 pita bread rounds

2 tablespoons butter

¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese or to taste

sweet paprika to taste

salt and pepper to taste

Methods :

Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat, and cook the eggplant about 10 minutes. Stir in the tomatoes, basil, pepper, and sugar. Simmer, stirring occasionally, 45 minutes. Mix the roasted red peppers into the skillet with the eggplant mixture. Continue cooking until eggplant is the consistency of the rest of the sauce.

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Place ziti pasta in the pot, cook 9 to 11 minutes, until al dente, and drain. Serve the eggplant and tomato sauce over the cooked ziti.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Open pitas and evenly spread insides with butter. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and season with paprika, salt and pepper. I like to make a light sprinkling of paprika across each piece. Heat pitas in the preheated oven until golden brown, about 6 minutes. Use to scoop up eggplant sauce, or eat separately.