Orecchiette dell'ortolano (garderner's sytle

Yield: 6 Servings

Ingredients:

1 lb Eggplant; * see note
2 Red bell peppers; ** see not
1/2 lb Asparagus; *** see note
2 lb Fava beans; peeled
1 lb Orecchiette pasta Salt; to taste Black pepper; to taste
4 tb Extra virgin olive oil
3 Cl Garlic; peeled & chopped

Instructions:

Recipe by: Tess Mercer * washed and sliced 1/2 inch thinck unpeeled ** fire-roasted peeled and seeded *** cleaned boiled and cut into 1-inch pieces Orecchiette Dell'Ortolano (Garderner's Sytle Little Ear Pasta) Brush the sliced eggplant with some of the olive oil and sprinkle with salt and peper to taste. Broil the eggplant on both sides turning it once until it is soft and nicely brown. Cut into large cubes and set aside. Pu the bell peppers on an open flame to scorch them and remove the skin seeds and core (or seedn and core the ppers cut them into quarters and place the under the broiler to loosen the skin). Cut the pepper into medium strips and set aside. Cook the asparagus spears in lightly saled water for about 4 minutes. Drai and let them cool. Do not put them into cold water. Cut the aspargus into 1 inch pieces and set aside. Peel off the rough outer skin of the fava bans. Remove the tender little bain in the inside pods. Discard all but the little bean. Drop the pasta into rapidly boiling lightly salted water. Stir well and often for about 8 minutes or a little less (the pasta must be al dente). Meanwhile heat the olive oil in a large skillet and when it is hot add the garlic. Saute the garlic for about 1 minute or until it is just golden. Add the eggplant bell pepper asparagus fava beans and some salt and pepp to taste. Let the mixture cook for about 3 minutes on medium heat. When the pasta is done drain off all but a tiny bit of cooking water. Add pasta to the skillet with the other ingredients and toss well. Serve very hot in heated pasta bowls. Serves 6. (c) Carlo Middione - Vivande Ristorante as printed in SF Examiner Epicure 4/26/95)