Sausage Eggplant Pasta Sauce

• 1 lb eggplant, cubed
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 12 ounces hot Italian sausage
• 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1 onion, diced
• 1 celery rib, diced
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 28 ounces whole tomatoes

1. In a colander, toss the eggplant with 1/2 teaspoon of the salt and let stand for 10 minutes.
2. Pat dry with a paper towel and set aside.
3. Remove the casings from the sausage.
4. In a large, shallow Dutch oven, heat 1 tablespoon of the oil over medium-high heat.
5. Brown the sausage, breaking up any large chunks.
6. With a slotted spoon, transfer to a paper towel-lined plate.
7. Drain the fat from the pan.
8. Heat the remaining oil in the same pan over medium heat.
9. Cook the onion, celery, garlic, oregano, pepper, eggplant and remaining salt, stirring occasionally, until the eggplant is very soft, about 15 minutes.
10. Add the tomatoes, breaking up with a spoon.
11. Return the sausage to the pan and bring to a boil.
12. Reduce the heat and simmer until thickened, about 35 minutes.

eggplant, salt, sausage, extra virgin olive oil, onion, celery, garlic, oregano, ground black pepper, tomatoes

Taken from www.food.com/recipe/sausage-eggplant-pasta-sauce-372478 (may not work)