Asian Style Miso and Eggplant Pasta
Asian Style Miso and Eggplant Pasta is a delicious and fun twist on a traditional Italian tomato and veggie pasta (vegan and gluten-free).
Hey guys! So, a bunch of you asked on Instagram for the recipe to this Asian Style Miso and Eggplant Pasta, and, of course, I wouldn't think twice about disappointing you and saving this recipe for a later date. So here it is! Last year I took a quick trip to visit my girlfriends in New York, where one of them works at a very delicious and fun restaurant (Mission Chinese). Since she's my best friend, she HOOKED IT UP. No joke, I was sitting by the bar and guess who walks out with a hoard of security guards and enough to suggest that the president was following right behind them? Well, actually it was Malia Obama! And, okay, I know what you're thinking, 'she didn't really set that up and it was really by chance'. And you're totally right, buttt, she did text me to hurry on over because Malia Obama was at the restaurant! So, that was cool. But what was even cooler (yes, cooler than seeing the president's daughter), was tasting for the first time an Asian style pasta made from matcha powder! Pasta and matcha powder?! Yes, pasta mixed with matcha powder! Not pasta with a side drink of matcha tea...well actually, that is how my best friend ended the night - by sending over a delicious matcha night cap...and a pizza, and some very spicy wings that I took one bite of, blew my head off from the heat, and passed them along to the bar tender to enjoy. Wings aren't really my thing.
So that night, I fell asleep to the sound of construction on the street (typical NYC experience, am I right?) and to the thought of an Asian style pasta. So this is my first attempt of infusing Asian flavors into pasta - with a heaping dose of brown miso paste. This stuff is delicious. Seriously. If you don't have a little jar of it at home, please go out and get some. It's pretty cheap and you can add it to anything! Outside of pasta, I love adding it to sautéing veggies, soup, and as brown rice cooks.
So enjoy the new wide world of Asian style pastas! I'll be experimenting with that matcha pasta any day now. And as always, you will be the first to see how it comes out :)
xx Marie
Serves: 2-4
Prep Time: 10 minutes | Cook Time: 20 minutes
Ingredients for the Miso and Eggplant Pasta:
- 1/3 bag of brown rice pasta (or any you'd like)
- 2 cups crimini mushrooms, thinly sliced
- 1 small eggplant, cut into bite-size cubes
- 1 & 1/2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes, cut into halves
- 1/2 cup green onions, thinly sliced into rings
- 4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
- 1 tablespoon brown miso paste
- 1/2 - 1 teaspoon chili flakes (optional)
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 3-5 tablespoons pasta water
Instructions:
In a medium size saucepan on medium-high heat, warm the olive oil with the chopped garlic cloves and tomato paste for 2 minutes. In the meantime, slice the mushrooms and cube the eggplant. Add these and the sliced tomatoes to the saucepan and reduced to medium heat. Press down on the tomatoes to release their juices. Gradually add enough water, a few tablespoons at a time, to the saucepan so that the vegetables don't stick to the bottom. Cook the veggies until they have softened, about 7 minutes.
As the veggies cook, add a tablespoon of sea salt to a large pot of boiling water. Then add in the pasta and cook for how long your package instructs. Stir the pasta frequently as it cooks.
Now add in the miso paste and chili flakes to the saucepan, and stir the miso around until it coats all the veggies. If the pasta sauce starts to stick to the saucepan add a few tablespoons of pasta water gradually so they don't stick. Drain the pasta and mix it together with the miso sauce. Top with extra green onions and enjoy!
Your Thoughts?
Have you tried making an asian style pasta before? I love adding miso paste into dishes as it lends a nice umami flavor to the whole plate. Just delicious.
I also love seeing your take on any of the recipes from the blog so don't forget to tag me on Instagram - #8thandlake - so I can see your creations!
You can also find me on Snapchat with more photos and clips of my everyday life - username - marie8thandlake and on Pinterest - to see what my dream reality would look like ;)
Lots of love from the west coast,
xx Marie