Sicily / Eggplant Pasta

Pasta alla Norma

Catania's pasta with fried eggplant, tomato, basil, and ricotta salata.

55 minutes Medium Serves 4 maccheroni

Method

  1. Slice or cube eggplant, salt lightly, and let stand if bitter.
  2. Fry eggplant until golden; drain.
  3. Cook garlic in olive oil, add tomatoes, and simmer until bright and thick.
  4. Cook pasta until al dente.
  5. Toss pasta with tomato sauce and some eggplant.
  6. Top with more eggplant, basil, and ricotta salata.
Cook's note: Ricotta salata is salty and dry. Grate it at the table for best texture.

Why this dish belongs to Sicily

Pasta alla Norma is tied to Catania and to stories around Vincenzo Bellini's opera Norma, though the exact naming story is debated.

Read the Sicily pasta history page

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