Super Eggplant-Tomato Sauce
4 tablespoon olive oil (or just use cooking spray)
1 eggplant, cubed
1 bell pepper, chopped
1 onion, chopped
2 garlic colves, minced
28oz canned or fresh tomatoes
5 tablespoon tomato paste
1 tablespoon sugar
1/2 cup water
salt and pepper to taste
ON STOVETOP:
In a medium saucepan heat olive oil. Add chopped bell pepper, onion and garlic. Saute for ~5 minutes. Then add eggplant and saute for 5 minutes more. Now add tomatoes (with the liquid), tomato paste, sugar and water. The water amount may vary depending on how much liquid your tomatoes had and how runny you like your sauce. Cook for additional 5 minutes until everything is soft.
IN MICROWAVE:
In a microwave safe dish combine onion, garlic and bell pepper. Sprinkle with oil, stir, cover and cook for 4 min on 70%. Add eggplant and water and cook for 5 more minutes on 70%. Add tomatoes, tomato paste and sugar. Return to microwave for 4 more minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste. You can go crazy here and add oregano or basil, but it's very good as it is. Now you can serve it (if you like chunks) or blend until smooth.
SO HOW'D IT GO?
yum!! i knew i would like as this is really similar to how i normally make eggplant pasta sauce. i changed it a little bit this time though by adding some sliced sausages (Field Roast Grain - Italian), browning them in the pan first before adding the other stuff. the sausage was really good, but definitely not necessary. i used a bunch of ketchup for the tomato paste, and so no sugar, and then added oregano, basil and crushed red pepper to taste. mmmm.. will be making this again for sure!
I just made this, and I like it! I used canned tomatoes and squished them in my hands, then dropped them in the pan. I also added oregano, which to me has no flavor, but it has a pleasant smell odor.
Dumb question maybe, but do the water and tomato paste not cancel each other out? Would it be OK to make it without them? Either way, it was good for me, because I had some tomato paste nearing the expiration date!