Ingredients
1 medium to large firm and heavy eggplant, peel off half the skin lengthwise and cut into small bite-sized pieces (3/4-inch cubes)
Salt
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 pound Italian sweet sausage with fennel seeds
2 Italian red frying peppers, halved
or 1 large red field pepper (sweet Bell-like pepper but more rectangular in shape), quartered lengthwise, seeded and thinly sliced
or 2 small red bell peppers, quartered lengthwise, seeded and thinly sliced
1 large or 2 medium onions, halved, peeled, quartered through root end and thinly sliced
1/2 cup (a fat handful) flat-leaf parsley tops
4 large cloves garlic
1/2 cup white wine
or water
1 28-ounce can San Marzano tomatoes
1 pound rigatoni with lines
About 1/2 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano plus more for table to pass
Green, fancy EVOO – Extra Virgin Olive Oil, to serve
Directions
Salt eggplant and let drain on kitchen towels or in a strainer for 20 minutes; pat dry.
Bring a large pot of water to a boil for pasta.Heat a large pan over medium-high heat with the olive oil, 2 turns of the pan. Add sausage and brown, breaking it up as it cooks. Add eggplant, peppers and onions, and stir 8-10 minutes to soften. Finely chop parsley and garlic together, and add to pan. Stir in 1/2 cup wine or water and add tomatoes, breaking them up with spoon. Reduce heat and simmer 20 minutes. Salt boiling water and cook pasta to 1 minute shy of al denteper package directions. Reserve 1 cup cooking water and drain. Toss pasta with sauce, add starchy water, a drizzle of good EVOO and 1/2 cup cheese.Serve in shallow bowls and pass additional cheese at the table.