Eggplant Israeli Couscous with Pistachio Pesto

I don't often cook with toasted Israeli couscous. It's not because it's complicated to prepare, it's just that it's not a very common ingredient to find at the market. I personally like it because it can simply be boiled and serve as a side dish. I flavored it with puréed Japanese eggplant and a bright, sweet and tasty pistachio pesto.

I served the warm, green Israeli couscous with veal scallopini, which was absolutely delicious. There was some extra pistachio pesto, which I stored in the freezer for future use. I don't know what I'm going to cook it with, but I can tell it will be scrumptious!

Eggplant Pasta Sauce Recipe

A warm pasta dish is the ideal comfort food, especially with the temperature dropping drastically in the Bay Area. There are no more fresh tomatoes in our planter and I had no canned tomatoes in my pantry either. With a tomato-based sauce out of the question, I made my own creation with a buttery cream cheese base. To that, I added roasted eggplant pulp for smokiness, roasted bell peppers, button mushrooms, garlic, sage and smoked paprika to complement the eggplant.

I used Wellenband egg noodles that I sautéed with the eggplant pasta sauce and added a little pasta water to finish the dish. I found the versatile shape of Wellenband pasta very original; the ruffles hold the sauce beautifully in their ridges. I also like the nice medium size; they can be eaten in one bite, which avoids any messiness, especially for children.

Fusilli Pasta with Roasted Butternut Squash

Pasta is always a hit in my home. This time, I paired fusilli with roasted butternut squash, fresh edamame soybeans and creamy eggplant. The sauce is made from puréed grilled eggplant mixed with cream cheese, onions and garlic. The winter squash gives more body and a deep orange color to the dish, and of course a pleasant sweetness.

My poor husband caught a bad cold that kept him in bed all weekend. I've been taking good care of him, feeding him comfort food and lots of fluids. Even though it might not cure his cold, this creamy pasta dish will cheer him up a little!