Mamma Leone-Style Eggplant and Sausage Ragu

• 1 medium to large firm and heavy eggplant, peel off half the skin lengthwise and cut into small bite-sized pieces (3/4-inch cubes)
• Salt
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 pound Italian sweet sausage with fennel seeds

• 2 Italian red frying peppers, halved or 1 large red field pepper (sweet Bell-like pepper but more rectangular in shape), quartered lengthwise, seeded and thinly sliced or 2 small red bell peppers, quartered lengthwise, seeded and thinly sliced
• 1 large or 2 medium onions, halved, peeled, quartered through root end and thinly sliced
• 1/2 cup (a fat handful) flat-leaf parsley tops
• 4 large cloves garlic
• 1/2 cup white wine or water
• 1 28-ounce can San Marzano tomatoes
• 1 pound rigatoni with lines
• About 1/2 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano plus more for table to pass
• Green, fancy EVOO – Extra Virgin Olive Oil, to serve

Salt eggplant and let drain on kitchen towels or in a strainer for 20 minutes; pat dry.

Bring a large pot of water to a boil for pasta.Heat a large pan over medium-high heat with the olive oil, 2 turns of the pan. Add sausage and brown, breaking it up as it cooks. Add eggplant, peppers and onions, and stir 8-10 minutes to soften. Finely chop parsley and garlic together, and add to pan. Stir in 1/2 cup wine or water and add tomatoes, breaking them up with spoon. Reduce heat and simmer 20 minutes. Salt boiling water and cook pasta to 1 minute shy of al denteper package directions. Reserve 1 cup cooking water and drain. Toss pasta with sauce, add starchy water, a drizzle of good EVOO and 1/2 cup cheese.Serve in shallow bowls and pass additional cheese at the table.