Wholemeal Spelt Tagliatelle with Roasted Aubergine and Tomato

Sorry to labour the point about good quality tomatoes but it makes all the difference!  I used wholemeal spelt tagliatelle in this recipe but if you can’t find it, use wholemeal tagliatelle instead, I know they definitely sell it in Sainsbury’s.  I managed to find wholemeal spelt pasta in Rome and also in Home Sense!  Both times it gave the ingredients in Italian: farina di farro.  This is a quick, simple recipe and really good after doing exercise.  I garnished with fresh marjoram as I have it growing in my garden and it tastes a little like oregano but this is optional!

Serves 1

1 aubergine

1 tbsp olive oil

2 medium good quality fresh tomatoes

1/2 can good quality chopped tomatoes

2 balls of wholemeal tagliatelle/100g other wholemeal pasta

1 tsp dried oregano

salt and pepper

1. Preheat the oven to 200C
2. Chop the aubergine into 1cm thick rounds and then cut right across each round 3 times to make into bite sized segments.
3. Put the aubergine into the medium sized roasting tin and drizzle with the oil and season.  Toss through the with your hands to ensure everything is evenly coated.
4. Put into the oven and set the time for 10 minutes.
5. Meanwhile chop each tomato into quarters, remove the green part of the core and chop each quarter into 2.  Season with salt and pepper.
6. Boil the kettle for the pasta and preheat a hob at a medium heat (4).
7. 2 minutes before the aubergine timer has finished, add the boiled water and pasta to a medium saucepan on the hob.  Bring to the boil and simmer for 12 minutes or until the pasta is al dente.
8. Once the 10 minutes is up, bring the aubergines out of the oven and use a fish slice to scrape them up and turn them over.  Add the fresh tomatoes and return to the oven for 8 minutes.
9. Once the 8 minutes are up, take the roasting tin out of the oven, pour in the canned tomatoes, mix and return to the oven for 2 minutes.
10. One the pasta is cooked, drain.  Take the tin out of the oven, add the pasta and oregano to the sauce and mix so that the pasta absorbs all of the lovely flavours.
11. Plate up and enjoy!