Pasta alla Norma
Penne rigate coated in a deeply flavorful, aromatic tomato sauce, topped with golden tender eggplant cubes, fresh basil, and savory cheese. A true masterpiece from Sicily.
40 min
Easy
Italiana
2 servings
The story behind
The first time I ever had a real Pasta alla Norma was during a quick getaway to Catania, the Sicilian city where this classic was born. I was sitting at a tiny sidewalk table, and the waiter proudly explained that the dish was named after 'Norma', the famous opera by Vincenzo Bellini, because the recipe is an absolute masterpiece. I thought that was such a beautiful story. To me, this is a killer choice for a hearty, satisfying lunch to break up a busy day. It goes beautifully with a simple side green salad tossed in a light lemon vinaigrette, and to drink, a chilled glass of light red wine or a cold sparkling water with an orange twist complements the flavors flawlessly.
Instructions
-
1Place the eggplant cubes in a colander, sprinkle with a bit of salt, and let them sit for 15 minutes to sweat out any bitterness. Rinse briefly and pat them completely dry with paper towels.
-
2Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and fry the eggplant cubes until they turn tender and beautifully golden brown all over. Remove them from the pan and set aside.
-
3In the same skillet, turn the heat down slightly, add the minced garlic, and cook for about a minute without letting it burn. Pour in the tomato purée, season with salt and pepper, toss in half of the basil leaves, and let it simmer gently for 10 minutes to thicken.
-
4While the sauce is simmering, cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until al dente according to package directions, then drain well.
-
5Toss the drained pasta and most of the golden eggplant cubes straight into the skillet with the tomato sauce. Stir gently for a minute to coat everything evenly, then plate immediately, topping each portion with the remaining eggplant, grated cheese, and fresh basil leaves.
Share this recipe
Rate this recipe
Sign in to the app to rate
You might also like
🍊
Save this recipe to your Zest
Add photos when you cook it, write your story, and share it with a Moment Card.
Create my free account