PastaSicily
Pasta alla Norma
A classic Sicilian pasta dish prepared with eggplant, tomato sauce, fresh basil, and ricotta salata.
20 min prep
35 min cook
4 servings
Family Story
Pasta alla Norma is a traditional Sicilian dish known for combining eggplant, tomato, basil, and ricotta salata into a simple and flavorful meal.
Ingredients
- •12 oz rigatoni or penne
- •1 medium eggplant, cut into cubes
- •3 tablespoons olive oil
- •2 cloves garlic, minced
- •1 can (28 oz) crushed tomatoes
- •Salt and black pepper, to taste
- •1/4 cup fresh basil leaves
- •1/2 cup grated ricotta salata
Instructions
- 1
Lightly salt the cubed eggplant and let it rest for 15 minutes, then pat it dry.
- 2
Heat the olive oil in a skillet and cook the eggplant until tender and golden. Remove and set aside.
- 3
In the same skillet, briefly cook the garlic, then add the crushed tomatoes, salt, and black pepper. Simmer for 15 minutes.
- 4
Cooking Tips
Cooking the eggplant until golden develops the best flavor. Ricotta salata provides the traditional finish, but grated pecorino may be used when needed.