Riccioli Con Melanzana E Mozzarella

• 300 g macaroni (riccioli amalfitani or similar pasta)
• 3 medium sized eggplants
• 4 plum tomatoes, blanched, peeled, seeded, and chopped
• 1 small onion, thinly sliced
• 100 g mozzarella cheese, diced (ideally buffalo, but cow's milk will work)
• 10 basil leaves, shredded
• 1/3 cup olive oil
• abundant freshly grated parmigiano (at least a half cup)
• salt and pepper

1. Peel and sliced the eggplant; salt the slices and put them in a colander in the sink for an hour, while the salt draws out their bitter juices.
2. Rinse them, pat them dry, and dice them finely.
3. Heat the olive oil in a large deep skillet and saute the onion until it has become golden and translucent.
4. Add the eggplant and cook, stirring, for 5 minutes.
5. Add the tomatoes and the basil, check seasoning, and cook the sauce for 15 minutes.
6. While preparing the sauce you should also heat the pasta water, salt it, and cook the pasta; by this point the pasta should be about done.
7. Drain it, and turn it into a bowl with the mozzarella and freshly grated Parmigiano.
8. Serve at once, with more Parmigiano for those who want it.

macaroni, eggplants, tomatoes, onion, mozzarella cheese, basil, olive oil, salt

Taken from www.food.com/recipe/riccioli-con-melanzana-e-mozzarella-475082 (may not work)