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Italian Vegetarian Dinner Featured

Pasta alla Norma (Italy)

An authentic recipe for traditional Italian Pasta alla Norma, showcasing the savory combination of golden fried eggplant, rich tomato sauce, and salted cheese.

Level Medium Prep 15 min Cook 20 min Servings 4 Score 4.9/10

Ready in

35 min

Makes 4 servings

Prep 15m

Cook 20m

Level Medium

About this recipe

An authentic recipe for traditional Italian Pasta alla Norma, showcasing the savory combination of golden fried eggplant, rich tomato sauce, and salted cheese.

A traditional Sicilian pasta dish highlighting crispy eggplant, rich tomato sauce, and shaved ricotta salata.

Ingredients

Servings

Units

Main

1 lb rigatoni or penne pasta
2 medium eggplant (cut into cubes or half-moons)

Sauce

1/4 cup olive oil (for frying and sauce)
2 cloves garlic (minced)
28 oz crushed tomatoes (san marzano preferred)
1/2 cup fresh basil leaves (torn)

Toppings

1 cup ricotta salata (grated)

Seasoning

salt and black pepper (to taste)

Equipment

Large skillet For frying eggplant and making sauce
Large pot For boiling pasta
Colander For draining pasta

Instructions

Cut the eggplant into cubes, sprinkle with salt, and let sit for 20 minutes to draw out moisture, then pat dry.
Heat olive oil in a skillet and fry the eggplant pieces until golden brown and tender. Remove and drain on paper towels.
In the same pan, sauté minced garlic until fragrant, then pour in the crushed tomatoes. Simmer for 15 minutes until thickened.
Cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until al dente, then reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water before draining.
Add the cooked pasta, most of the fried eggplant, and fresh basil into the tomato sauce, tossing well with a splash of pasta water.
Serve warm, topped with the remaining crispy eggplant, fresh basil leaves, and a generous grating of ricotta salata.

Nutrition

Calories 480

Protein 14g

Carbs 72g

Fat 16g

Fiber 6g

Sugar 8g

Sodium 520mg

Serving Size 1 serving

Cooking Timeline

Prep 15 min

Cook 20 min

Total 35 min

Recipe Scorecard

Overall 9.4 /10

Expert 4.9 95% conf.

Taste 9.7
Presentation 9.2
Nutrition 8.0
Value 9.5
Instructions 9.4
Ingredients 9.2
Time Accuracy 9.0
Difficulty 7.5
Would Make Again 9.5

Expert Review

Reviewed by FindEdition Kitchen

Verdict

An absolute masterpiece of Sicilian cuisine combining rich fried eggplant, sweet tomatoes, and salty cheese.

Pros

Authentic Italian flavor
Wonderful texture contrast
Simple wholesome ingredients

Cons

Requires eggplant prep time

Overview

A traditional Sicilian pasta dish highlighting crispy eggplant, rich tomato sauce, and shaved ricotta salata.

AI Insights

Summary

An authentic recipe for traditional Italian Pasta alla Norma, showcasing the savory combination of golden fried eggplant, rich tomato sauce, and salted cheese.

Tips

Salt the eggplant before cooking to remove excess bitterness and ensure a better crisp texture
Reserve pasta cooking water to achieve a glossy, well-emulsified sauce
Use high-quality canned San Marzano tomatoes for the sweetest sauce base