Boil the pasta in salted water until al dente according to package instructions. Drain the pasta but reserve about 1/4 cup of the cooking water.
In a skillet, heat 5 tablespoons of oil reserved from the sun-dried tomatoes over medium heat. Add finely chopped shallot and minced garlic, cooking until soft and fragrant—about 3 minutes.
Add the diced eggplant to the skillet and sauté for about 3 minutes before stirring in the sun-dried tomatoes along with their remaining oil. Cook together for another 5 minutes until tender.
Pour in the puréed tomatoes, bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer for about 5 minutes. Season with crushed red pepper flakes, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper to taste.
Stir in the ricotta cheese along with your cooked pasta into the skillet. Add reserved cooking water if needed to ensure everything is well-coated; cook until heated through—about one minute.
Plate your Eggplant and Sun-Dried Tomato Ricotta Pasta immediately for maximum creaminess and enjoy warm!