Eggplant pasta with lemon and cheese

This year I'm all about easy homemade food and every now and then I'll be sharing recipes for new staples, starting with this cheesy eggplant pasta (with greens!) that comes from my friend Mel.

One night last year, I went round to Melly's new place for a midweek dinner. She made this cheesy eggplant pasta and opened a bottle of prossecco. It was a simple meal that felt comforting and special. We talked about big things that night and while I'd arrived feeling sad and stuck, I left feeling properly cared for.

Eggplant pasta with lemon, spinach and cheese

You will need:

250g of bow-tie pasta (around half a box)
One medium sized eggplant, peeled and cubed
1/4 cup of olive oil
4 garlic cloves, finely chopped (a garlic crusher is your friend here)
15g of butter (or one generous slice)
Two big handfuls of baby spinach, washed and dried
Half a lemon, juiced
1 cup of parmesan cheese, grated
Salt and pepper

Here's how:

Heat the olive oil and the butter in a large frypan over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook until soft and fragrant, stirring occasionally. Mix in the eggplant, stirring every five minutes until it's dark and tender.

While you're waiting, cook and drain your pasta.

Add the spinach to the eggplant and season with salt and pepper. Cook until the spinach is wilted, about three minutes. Mix through the pasta, lemon juice and half of the parmesan cheese.

Serve with parmesan cheese, cracked pepper and chilled white wine :)

Three rainy day pastas

We ate pasta on Valentine's Day,  a big bowl of lamb bolognese with spaghetti each to be specific and it was great. Most years, my birthday meal is a pasta too. If you share my love of pasta, I reckon you'll like these three recipes, they're easy to make and delicious.

1. Donna Hay's slow-cooked beef ragu

I have a soft spot for tomatoey pastas and this is one of my favourites. It's birthday-dinner worthy. My friend Angie introduced me to this recipe while I was staying with her late last year and I've made it so many times since! It's a really good one to cook for new parents because it's rich, comforting and easy to transport. Also you're actively cooking for about 15 minutes and the oven does the rest.

I use beef cheeks (which are often called ox cheeks) for this dish. You don't need to worry about trimming the fat from the meat because you can pull it off easily after it comes out of the oven.

2. Joy the Baker's one-pot french onion pasta

If I'm cooking for vegetarians, I make this dish using a vegetable-based chicken stock (if that makes sense) like the Massel brand. I made this pasta just last week and it's so yummy, and kind of genius how it all cooks in one pot. This is a great one for a simple dinner party, where you can have it on the stove, make a few sides and not fuss too much in the kitchen.

3. Smitten Kitchen's tomato sauce with butter and onion

My sister sent this recipe to me years ago, and we've been making it ever since. I'm a big fan of Smitten Kitchen recipes and this one is a reliable last-minute dinner, with simple ingredients that you probably already have at home. The butter is an excellent addition.

P.S - My most favourite places to go out for pasta are Italian & Sons in Canberra, A Tavola and Fratelli Fresh in Sydney (or Buon Ricordo if it's a special occasion) and Mates Gully Organics in Wagga Wagga.