The Hungry Bites

  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Categories
    • Main Dishes
      • Beef and veal
      • Chicken and Poultry
      • Lamb and Goat
      • Pork
      • Fish and seafood
      • Other Meats
      • Legumes
      • Salad Meals
    • Side Dishes
    • Greek Appetizers and Meze
    • Pasta and rice
    • Soups and stews
    • One pan - One pot
    • Air Fryer
    • Salads
    • Greek Desserts and Sweets
      • Cakes
      • Cheesecakes
      • Cupcakes and muffins
      • Cookies
      • Chocolate
      • Ice Cream
      • Pies Bars and Tarts
      • Puddings, jams and creams
    • Breakfast and Brunch
    • Bread Recipes
    • Greek Drinks
    • Dietary
      • Vegan
      • Vegetarian
      • Gluten-free
      • Healthy
  • The Mediterranean Diet
  • About The Hungry Bites
    • Contact me
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Summer
  • Recipes
  • MDiet
  • About
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Summer
    • Recipes
    • MDiet
    • About
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Pasta and rice

    Creamy summer pasta with eggplant and tomatoes

    Modified: Sep 21, 2018 · Published: Aug 19, 2018 by Makos

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This creamy summer pasta recipe with eggplant and tomatoes is an easy and quick dinner which captures the essence of the Mediterranean summer!

    Creamy summer pasta with eggplant and tomatoes

    Let’s make the best of summer, while it still lasts! And this creamy summer pasta with eggplant, tomatoes and basil captures the essence of the Mediterranean summer!

    With just a handful of ingredients and within a few minutes, you can make a quick and light dinner full of goodness. Just make sure you pick the freshest vegetables because these are the stars of this dish.

    So, opt for the juiciest, sweetest tomatoes, a firm, shiny eggplant, and some fresh basil leaves from your garden.

    For those of you who don’t have the luxury of a garden – just like me – know that a small pot of basil from your local market, which you can keep near a sunny window, is probably almost the same price as a bag of fresh basil from the store. And with more basil, you'll get to make this amazing 5-minute pistachio pesto with basil 🙂

    Creamy summer pasta with eggplant and tomatoes 3

    I am not the biggest fan of eggplant. I mean, when cooked the right way it can have a deep, complex flavor that may remind you of meat (that’s why I’ve used it in this soy-free vegan Bolognese sauce) but you won’t see me running to the table like a crazy person if you tell me that mousaka is for dinner.

    However, the combination of garlic, eggplant, and basil in this creamy summer pasta is a combination made in heaven!

    Creamy summer pasta with eggplant and tomatoes 2

    What type of pasta to use for this recipe?

    The type of pasta can have a significant impact on flavor. Even if two different types are made of exactly the same ingredients (usually water and semolina) their shape can affect the way the flavor is transported through our taste buds.

    So, even if this recipe will work well with spaghetti, it’s best to use a type of pasta like tortiglioni, rigatoni, penne, or fusilli. And no, orzo pasta is not something I would use here.

    If you happen to have a bag of orzo pasta just make this Mediterranean orzotto with vegetables and marinated cheese cubes for another easy and quick meatless dinner, or make a traditional Greek beef stew (Youvetsi) which is more of a Sunday dinner since it requires some extra time (but it’s soooo worth it!).

    Creamy summer pasta with eggplant and tomatoes 4

    How to make eggplant less bitter

    Nowadays, through selective reproduction and other farming methods, most eggplant types are less bitter than they used to be.

    However, if you want, you can do what most Greek women do: slice the eggplant in about half an inch thick slices and submerge it in a bowl filled with salted water. The salt will remove some of the bitterness.

    Also, “male” eggplants tend to have fewer seeds and are therefore less bitter than “female” eggplants.

    You’ll recognize the “males” from the round indentation they have at the bottom, while the “females” have more of a linear indentation. Also, smaller eggplants tend to be less bitter. You can read more about it in this thread about how to get the bitter taste out of eggplant.

    Creamy summer pasta with eggplant and tomatoes 5

    Some notes/tips:

    • The type of pasta used can have an impact in flavor. Use tortiglioni, rigatoni, penne or fusilli for the best flavor.
    • Slice and salt your eggplant, or place it in a bowl filled with salted water. Salt will absorb some of the bitterness. Rinse well after 10 minutes and pat dry with kitchen paper.
    • Don’t overcook the tomatoes! You want them firm and juicy, not mushy and soft.
    • Increase the amount of yogurt for extra creaminess.
    • Please don’t omit the fresh basil!
    Creamy summer pasta with eggplant and tomatoes 6

    You may also like these similar recipes:

    Creamy Greek salad pasta recipe

    Pappardelle a la Spanakopita

    Paccheri (or manicotti) recipe with feta cheese & peppers

    Share this post if you liked it and don’t forget to subscribe for new recipes or follow me on Instagram,   Pinterest,   Facebook

    📖 Recipe

    Creamy summer pasta with eggplant and tomatoes

    Makos
    This creamy summer pasta recipe with eggplant and tomatoes is an easy and quick dinner which captures the essence of the Mediterranean summer!
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 17 minutes mins
    Cook Time 12 minutes mins
    Total Time 29 minutes mins
    Course Main Course, Pasta, Vegetarian
    Cuisine Mediterranean
    Servings 4
    Calories 757 kcal

    Ingredients
     

    • 1 pound tortiglioni pasta
    • 3 tablespoons olive oil
    • 1 medium eggplant about 300 grams, diced
    • 2 cloves of garlic, whole
    • 2 teaspoons thyme
    • 1 pound (450 grams) cherry tomatoes cut in half, or diced tomatoes
    • ¼ - ½ cup sliced olives
    • 1 ½ cup feta cheese, crumbled
    • ½ cup plain Greek yogurt, whole or 2%, or more to taste
    • Salt and freshly grated pepper to taste
    • 10-14 medium-sized basil leaves, chopped
    • 1-2 tablespoons capers, optional

    Instructions
     

    • While you prepare the eggplant, cook the pasta according to the packaging directions, rinse it and drain well.
    • Heat a large skillet or a deep pan over medium/high heat and add the olive oil, the eggplant, the garlic, the salt, the pepper, and the thyme. Cook for 8-10 minutes or until eggplant is soft and tender.
    • Remove the garlic cloves from the pan and add the tomatoes and cook for 1 minute, then and add the yogurt, half of the feta, the basil, and the pasta. Stir and cook until feta is just starting to melt, about 1 minute. Remove from heat and add the rest of the feta. Taste and adjust seasonings.
    • Eat!

    Notes

    Use whole wheat pasta to make this dish more healthy.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 757kcal
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    If you like this recipe, Pin it!

    Creamy summer pasta with eggplant and tomatoes 7

    More Mediterranean Recipes with Pasta or Rice

    • A mortar and a pestle with ground pistachios and basil leaves.
      5-Minute Pistachio Pesto Recipe with Basil
    • Featured image of Mediterranean vegetable orzo pasta (orzotto).
      Mediterranean Vegetable Orzo Pasta (One Pot Recipe)
    • Featured image for spaghetti sauce with ground beef.
      Best spaghetti sauce with ground beef (ragu Bolognese)
    • Creamy mushroom risotto without wine, featured image.
      Best creamy mushroom risotto recipe without wine

    Comments

      5 from 1 vote

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




      This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    1. Karly says

      August 24, 2018 at 1:53 pm

      I am so excited about this recipe! I can't wait to try it!

      Reply
      • Makos says

        August 29, 2018 at 9:21 pm

        Thanks Karly! Good luck!

        Reply
    2. Mimi says

      August 27, 2018 at 4:05 pm

      Just beautiful, with wonderful summer vegetables. Beautiful photos!

      Reply
      • Makos says

        August 29, 2018 at 9:26 pm

        Thank you very much Mimi! 🙂

        Reply
    3. Akhila@Pepper Delight says

      August 27, 2018 at 11:00 pm

      5 stars
      This looks AMAZZING!!! I am craving pasta dishes these days and with all the summer goodness, it's Perfect!!!

      Reply
      • Makos says

        August 29, 2018 at 9:28 pm

        Thanks! Summer calls for summer pasta, haha!

        Reply
    4. Sandy says

      November 07, 2018 at 2:00 am

      I made this yesterday and it was really simple and satisfying. I live in Thailand so I had to make some changes (for example, Thai basil tastes pretty different than sweet basil, and we can't get feta cheese in my city) but it was still delicious! Thank you!

      Reply
      • Makos says

        November 09, 2018 at 3:42 pm

        Thanks for the feeedback Sandy, I'mvery happy you liked it! I hope one day I'll manage to visit Thailand. All the places and flavors must be wonderful!

        Reply
    author profile image.

    Welcome to The Hungry Bites, your go-to destination for authentic Greek and Mediterranean recipes, straight from the heart of the Aegean.

    About →

    Summer Recipes

    • Dolma on a plate.
      BEST Dolma: Stuffed Grape Vine Leaves with Meat
    • Featured image for creamy Greek pasta salad.
      Creamy Greek pasta salad (with healthy yogurt dressing)
    • A stuffed tomato and pepper on a plate.
      Easy Gemista: Greek stuffed peppers & tomatoes
    • Greek baked octopus in foil featured image.
      Easy Mediterranean baked octopus recipe (in foil)
    • Greek yogurt marinated chicken breasts.
      Greek yogurt chicken marinade—it doubles as a sauce
    • Greek salad featured image.
      Traditional Greek salad (authentic recipe by a Greek)
    • Cretan dakos salad on a plate.
      Traditional Greek Dakos Salad Recipe (by a Cretan)
    • Ouzo cocktails
      Greek booze: 5 Ouzo Cocktails You Need to Try

    Popular Recipes

    • Featured image: 3 slices of spanakopita stacked the one on the other.
      Easy Greek Spinach Pie (Traditional Spanakopita)
    • Oven baked swordfish featured image.
      Oven baked swordfish recipe with lemon vinaigrette
    • A bowl with lemon garlic pearled couscous.
      Best Lemon Garlic Pearl Couscous Recipe
    • Baked chicken leg on a plate with potatoes, carrots and cauliflower.
      Greek baked chicken recipe (with potatoes)
    • Easy pistachio cream in a jar, featured image.
      2-ingredient Pistachio Cream Recipe
    • Pistachio chocolate cake featured image.
      Dubai Chocolate Pistachio Cake
    • Italian almond cookies featured image.
      Easy Italian almond cookies recipe - soft amaretti
    • Creme brulee featured image
      Classic French Crème brûlée recipe (in 5 easy steps)

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    As Seen In

    GREATIST, Buzzfeed, Saveur, wellandgood, verywellfit, popsugar, everydayhealth, brit.co, Health.com, Livestrong, Thefeedfeed, Marie Claire, Thepappaspost.

    About

    • About Me
    • Privacy Policy
    • Accessibility Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Instagram
    • Facebook
    • YouTube

    Copyright © 2016-2025 The Hungry Bites

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required

    Recipe Ratings without Comment

    Something went wrong. Please try again.