The Best Spicy Tomato Eggplant Sauce Recipe You'll Ever Make
This spicy tomato eggplant sauce combines fresh tomatoes, tender eggplant, and aromatic garlic to create a velvety, bold, and healthy sauce perfect for pasta or other meals. It’s versatile, vegan-friendly, and packed with essential nutrients, making it the best tomato sauce for pasta or a quick spicy vegetable sauce to complement any dish.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 medium eggplant chopped (about 6 cups)
- 4 large tomatoes seeded and coarsely chopped
- 1 small onion chopped
- 1/4 cup shredded carrot
- 5 garlic cloves crushed
- 1 carton (32 ounces) chicken or vegetable broth
- 1 can (29 ounces) tomato puree
- 1 piece Parmigiano-Reggiano rind
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- Hot cooked pasta
- Grated Parmesan cheese optional
Instructions
- Set your 6-quart electric pressure cooker to the sauté setting and adjust to medium heat. Add the olive oil.
- Once the oil is hot, add chopped eggplant, tomatoes, onion, and shredded carrot. Cook and stir for 8-10 minutes until the vegetables are crisp-tender.
- Add crushed garlic and continue cooking for 1 more minute, stirring frequently to prevent it from burning.
- Cancel the sauté setting to prevent overheating. Add the broth, tomato puree, Parmigiano-Reggiano rind, oregano, basil, crushed red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper, stirring to combine.
- Lock the lid of the pressure cooker and close the pressure-release valve. Set to pressure-cook on high for 45 minutes.
- After cooking, allow the pressure to release naturally for the best texture and flavor development.
- Once the pressure has been released, remove the lid and discard the cheese rind. Stir the sauce and adjust seasonings to your liking.
- Serve the sauce warm over your favorite pasta and garnish with grated Parmesan cheese and more crushed red pepper flakes, if desired.
Notes
This sauce is naturally vegan if you skip the cheese rind. It can also be adjusted for keto by serving with spiralized zucchini noodles or roasted spaghetti squash.