Eggplant, Tomato and Fresh Ricotta Farfalle

Contributed by Scott Conant

In a colander, toss the eggplant with 1 teaspoon of salt and let stand for 10 minutes. Pat dry with paper towels.
Meanwhile, in a large pot of boiling salted water, cook the farfalle until just al dente. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup of the cooking water.
In a large, deep skillet, heat the vegetable oil until shimmering. Add the eggplant and cook over high heat, stirring occasionally, until tender and golden, about 5 minutes; transfer to a paper towel-lined plate. Wipe out the skillet.
Heat the olive oil in the skillet over moderately high heat. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add the tomatoes, oregano, crushed red pepper and a pinch of black pepper. Cook, crushing the tomatoes, about 3 minutes. Add the farfalle, the reserved cooking water and the eggplant and cook over moderate heat, stirring, until the pasta is heated through, 3 minutes; season with salt. Transfer to bowls and sprinkle with the Parmesan. Top with the ricotta and basil and pass extra Parmesan at the table.