Photo:giallozafferano.it

Presentation

First course prepared with tortiglioni eggplant, capers, penis, mint, feta, garlic, chilli, extra virgin olive oil, salt and pepper.

Ingredients
Serves 4

• 320 g whole wheat tortiglioni (about 11 oz / 0.7 lb)
• 250 g eggplant (about 8.8 oz / 1 medium eggplant)
• 20 g salt-packed capers (about 0.7 oz / 2 tablespoons, rinsed)
• 100 g stale whole wheat bread (about 3.5 oz / 3–4 slices)
• Fresh mint, as needed
• 80 g feta cheese (about 2.8 oz / ½ cup crumbled)
• 1 garlic clove
• 2 small fresh chili peppers
• 20 g extra-virgin olive oil (about 1½ tablespoons / 0.7 fl oz)
• Fine salt, to taste
• Black pepper, to taste

Method

Boil a pot of salted water

Take the stale wholemeal bread cut into slices

Blend it until coarse crumbs.

Wash the chillies

Remove the seeds and chop them finely.

Pour half of the oil into a pan

Add the crushed chilli pepper and bread crumbs and let them brown over medium-high heat for a few minutes

Wash the aubergines and remove the ends

Cut the eggplant first into slices, then into strips about 1 cm wide and finally into cubes. Cook the pasta in plenty of salted water to taste.

Separately, heat the other half of the oil in a pan

Add a clove of garlic and the aubergine cubes.

Cook over medium-high heat for 4-5 minutes, until golden brown

Remove the garlic from the pan, salt and pepper.

In the meantime, rinse the capers under running water

Chop them with a knife. When the pasta is al dente, drain it, pass it quickly under a jet of water

Let it cool on a large baking sheet after seasoning it with oil.

Take a large bowl and combine all the ingredients: the golden aubergine cubes, the mint leaves previously washed and dried, the chopped capers,

the toasted bread crumbs, the wholemeal tortiglioni and finally the crumbled feta.

Mix well and divide the pasta thus seasoned into serving dishes, garnishing at the end with a few more crumbs of feta and bread

Allergens

Garlic: very rare cases of garlic reactivity reported

Capers: ability to counteract the symptoms of allergies

Feta: milk allergens

Aubergine: possible individual intolerance or cross-reactivity in case of grass allergy

Mint: possible cross-reactivity in case of spice allergy

Extra virgin olive oil: unusual allergy; intolerance not described

Bread: cereals containing gluten included in EU Regulation 1169/2011

Tortiglioni: pasta that contains gluten from cereals included in EU Regulation 1169/2011

Pepper: possible cross-reactivity in case of intolerance to spices

Chili pepper: possible cross-reactivity in case of intolerance to spices

Notes

The ingredients of the dish bring the following benefits:

Garlic: has immune-stimulating properties, promotes liver function and the elimination of waste metabolites. It also has hypocholesterolemic, lipid-lowering, antiplatelet, hypotensive and hypoglycemic properties that promote cardiac function.

Capers: source of antioxidants capable of supporting the immune system, of rutin that strengthens capillaries and inhibits the formation of platelet aggregates, promoting the functionality of the cardiovascular system.

Aubergine: provides flavonoids (Vit. P ), antioxidants that enhance the action of Vit. C in favor of the immune system and mineral salts, vitamins and antioxidants that act to protect the cardiovascular system; also suitable for nephropathic patients. Useful for the functioning of the liver for the supply of vitamins, mineral salts and antioxidants

Mint: source of numerous antioxidants and potassium favorable to cardiovascular and liver function.

Extra virgin olive oil: source of Vitamin E that protects the immune system from harmful fatty acids

Wholemeal bread: source of fibre that supports the intestinal microbiota, improves intestinal transit and provides B vitamins and minerals that strengthen the immune system; also suitable for kidney patients:

Pasta: if produced with wholemeal flour, which provides zinc, an element favorable to the proper functioning of the immune system; also suitable for nephropathic patients:

Pepper: contains piperine, a powerful antioxidant;  It improves insulin sensitivity by reducing cholesterol levels and activating metabolism. Recommended for people with problems

Chili pepper: rich in vitamin C, the antioxidant par excellence that fights free radicals and supports the immune system

Safety / Intended use

Also intended for individuals suffering from:

• Anorexia – Weight Loss
• Constipation
• Xerostomia (dry mouth)
• In the presence of dysphagia (problems with chewing and swallowing) present in small pieces of uniform size.
• Mucositis (inflammation and injury of the oral cavity)