Eggplant and bacon pasta
summary：Add this Mediterranean-style pasta recipe to your collection for a colourful mid-week pick-me-up....
Ingredients
• 375g large shell pasta
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 4 middle bacon rashers, rind removed, thinly sliced
• 1 large eggplant, cut into 2cm pieces
• 150g cherry tomatoes, halved
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed
• 2 cups tomato pasta sauce
• 1 cup pitted black olives
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh basil leaves
• 100g fresh ricotta, crumbled
• Extra baby basil leaves, to serve
Method
1. Cook pasta in a large saucepan of boiling, salted water, following packet directions, until just tender. Drain.
2. Meanwhile, heat oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add bacon and eggplant. Cook, stirring, for 5 minutes or until bacon is crisp and eggplant is golden. Add tomato and garlic. Cook, stirring, for 1 minute or until fragrant.
3. Add tomato pasta sauce. Bring to the boil. Stir in olives. Reduce heat to low. Simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes or until eggplant is tender. Add pasta and basil. Gently toss to combine. Serve pasta sprinkled with ricotta and basil leaves.