The classic Italian dish pasta alla norma is a flavorful and colorful dish that combines simple, fresh ingredients to create a satisfying meal. Originating in Sicily, this pasta dish is traditionally made with rigatoni or penne pasta, eggplant, tomatoes, ricotta salata cheese, and basil. The eggplant is typically fried until golden brown and tender, then combined with a rich tomato sauce made with fresh tomatoes, garlic, and olive oil. The pasta is cooked al dente and tossed with the eggplant and tomato sauce, then topped with grated ricotta salata cheese and fresh basil. Pasta alla norma is a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed for lunch or dinner.
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PASTA ALLA NORMA
This traditional Sicilian pasta dish of sautéed eggplant tossed with tomato sauce and topped with ricotta salata makes for a satisfying vegetarian dinner, and it can be thrown together in under an hour.
Provided by Mark Bittman
Categories dinner, easy, lunch, pastas, main course
Time 45m
Yield 4 to 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Slice the eggplant about 1/2 inch thick. Cook in abundant olive oil, without crowding, sprinkling with salt and adding more oil as needed. You will undoubtedly have to cook in batches; take your time and cook until the eggplant is nicely browned and soft. Remove to a plate; do not drain on paper towels. Meanwhile, put a large pot of water to boil and salt it.
- At the end of the cooking the eggplant, the pan will ideally have a couple of tablespoons of oil left. If there's more or less, drain some off or add a bit. Turn the heat to medium, add the garlic and chiles, and cook until the garlic colors a little bit. Add the tomatoes and oregano, along with some salt and pepper; cook until saucy but not too dry, stirring occasionally.
- Cook the pasta until tender but not mushy. While it's cooking, cut the eggplant into strips and reheat for a minute in the tomato sauce. Drain the pasta and toss it with the tomato sauce and the eggplant. Taste and adjust the seasoning, then top with the parsley or basil and grated cheese and serve.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 418, UnsaturatedFat 5 grams, Carbohydrate 70 grams, Fat 9 grams, Fiber 8 grams, Protein 16 grams, SaturatedFat 3 grams, Sodium 757 milligrams, Sugar 9 grams
EASY PASTA ALLA NORMA
As an Italian, it just doesn't get better than pasta and eggplant! Give this pasta alla norma a try for a perfect weeknight dinner!
Provided by Cindy Anschutz Barbieri
Categories Fruits and Vegetables Vegetables Eggplant
Time 40m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until smoking. Add garlic and then eggplant and cook stirring regularly, until softened and lightly browned, 8 to 10 minutes. Add tomatoes, basil, and thyme. Bring everything to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 15 minutes. Season with sea salt and pepper to taste.
- Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil and add 2 tablespoons salt. Cook spaghetti in the boiling water, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 12 minutes. Drain well and pour hot pasta into the skillet with eggplant mixture. Toss to combine.
- Garnish with basil leaves and red pepper flakes. Drizzle some olive oil on top and serve topped with Parmesan cheese.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 658.2 calories, Carbohydrate 107.8 g, Cholesterol 4.4 mg, Fat 17.5 g, Fiber 14.5 g, Protein 21 g, SaturatedFat 3.2 g, Sodium 1029.7 mg, Sugar 13.7 g
PASTA ALLA NORMA
I was in Italy this summer and I came back with "several" Italian cooking magazines. This recipe is from "Sale & Pepe"(salt and pepper). It was very simple and fast. I really liked it. I did use SUPER FRESH organic tomatoes and eggplant and I firmly believe that makes a huge difference.
Provided by MsPia
Categories European
Time 1h15m
Yield 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Layer eggplant on a colander with some coarse salt and put a plate on top with some weight to get ride of the eggplant bitterness. Let it sit for about 1 hour.
- Wash tomatoes, make a small cut on the bottom and throw them in boiling water for an instant. Then peel them, cut them in fourth, get rid of the seed and juice and chopped them.
- In a pan, heat the olive oil, add the garlic and sauté briefly. Then add tomatoes, basil, wine salt and pepper and cook for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Rinse the eggplant and get rid of all the salt. Dry with a paper towel. Heat oil in a frying pan and fry eggplant in batches until golden. Drain on paper towels.
- Meanwhile, boil water with some salt to cook pasta al dente, following manufacture's instructions.
- Drain pasta and mix with sauce. Pour on a big serving dish. Sprinkle fry eggplant on top and crumble goat cheese. EAT!
- Note: The original recipe calls for "Ricotta Salata" instead of goat cheese, that it is not the same as the regular ricotta we can get a the store; it is a fabulous cheese from Sicily, from the province of Messina. It is not impossible to find in the US, but it is quite pricey.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 1565.5, Fat 133.2, SaturatedFat 24.3, Cholesterol 22.4, Sodium 158.7, Carbohydrate 80.5, Fiber 14.8, Sugar 6.7, Protein 14.9
PASTA ALLA NORMA RECIPE BY TASTY
Here's what you need: medium eggplant, kosher salt, olive oil, garlic, whole peeled tomato, red pepper flakes, whole wheat spaghetti, ricotta salata, fresh basil
Provided by Crystal Hatch
Yield 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Trim the ends of the eggplant, then slice into ½-inch (1 ¼ cm) thick rounds. Lay the eggplant rounds on a paper towel and season generously on both sides with salt. Let rest for 10 minutes to draw out excess moisture. After 10 minutes, pat the eggplant rounds with a paper towel to remove the moisture.
- Heat a griddle pan over medium-high heat and grease with 2 tablespoons of the olive oil, or your oil of choice. Grill the eggplant for about 2 minutes on each side, or until grill marks are formed. Set aside to cool, then cut into bite-size pieces.
- Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large pan over medium heat. When the oil is hot, add the smashed garlic and cook until fragrant and lightly browned but not burnt, flipping as needed. Remove the garlic from the oil and set aside to cool, then mince.
- To the garlic oil, add the chopped tomatoes. Cook for 5-10 minutes, or until caramelized. Add the reserved tomato juice and simmer until reduced to a sauce-like consistency, 5-8 minutes.
- Add ½ teaspoon salt, the red pepper flakes, and the minced fried garlic. Stir well, reduce the heat to low, and simmer while you make the pasta.
- In a large pot of boiling water, cook the pasta according to the package instructions. Drain and return to the pot.
- Pour the tomato sauce over the hot pasta. Add the eggplant, ricotta salata, and fresh basil. Toss until well combined.
- Serve immediately.
- Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts : Calories 461 calories, Carbohydrate 73 grams, Fat 13 grams, Fiber 9 grams, Protein 14 grams, Sugar 11 grams
PASTA ALLA NORMA
Hello, I'm Tony Mantuano, and we are going to do a classic Sicilian pasta called pasta alla Norma. This pasta dish comes from Catania, on the Eastern coast of Sicily, where one of its inhabitants, Vincenzo Bellini, wrote an opera called Norma.
Provided by Tony Mantuano
Categories main-dish
Time 30m
Yield 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Cook the pasta and sauce: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta to the boiling water and cook until al dente, about 3 minutes less than what the box advises. Meanwhile, cut the eggplants into a large dice. Heat a skillet to high heat, add the olive oil, then the eggplant in one layer. Season with salt and pepper and add more oil if the pan becomes too dry. Continue cooking until eggplant is lightly brown. Add the garlic, chili pepper, dried oregano and stir to keep the garlic from browning. Add tomato passato, bring sauce back to a simmer and cook for 5 more minutes.
- Assemble the dish: When the sauce is finished cooking, turn off the heat and add the basil. Meanwhile, when the pasta is firm to the touch, reserve 1 cup pasta water (you will only need half). Drain the pasta and return it to the pot along with the sauce and ½ cup pasta water. Over low heat gently toss the pasta with the sauce for 2 minutes to allow it to "marry" and absorb some of the sauce. The dish is done when the pasta begins to stick to the bottom of the pot. Garnish with grated ricotta salata cheese and serve.
PASTA ALLA NORMA
This is an original recipe given to me from Sicilian relatives. Pasta is tossed with a simple tomato sauce, then topped with fried eggplant, ricotta salata, and hot peppers. The cut of pasta is not too important, it is good even with spaghetti.
Provided by Buckwheat Queen
Categories Main Dish Recipes Pasta
Time 1h7m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Combine eggplant and 2 tablespoons salt in a large bowl with water to cover. Place a plate on top of the eggplant to weigh it down and keep it covered in water for about 30 minutes. Drain and rinse eggplant in cool water. Pat dry and cut into cubes.
- Combine tomato puree, 1 teaspoon rock salt, garlic, and basil in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until sauce flavors combine, 5 to 10 minutes.
- Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Saute eggplant until golden brown, 5 to 10 minutes. Drain on paper towels.
- Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil; add penne and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 11 minutes. Drain and toss with the tomato-basil sauce; divide into 4 serving bowls. Top with eggplant. Sprinkle 1/4 the ricotta and 1/4 the diced pepper over each bowl.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 355.5 calories, Carbohydrate 58.4 g, Cholesterol 7.4 mg, Fat 10.3 g, Fiber 8.5 g, Protein 11.8 g, SaturatedFat 2.5 g, Sodium 4571.7 mg, Sugar 10.4 g
PASTA ALLA NORMA
Try this easy version of an alla norma, which uses roast aubergine instead of fried. It's then tossed with spaghetti and a rich tomato and basil sauce
Provided by Esther Clark
Categories Dinner
Time 1h10m
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Toss the aubergines with the salt, then tip into a colander set over a bowl for 30 mins, to extract any moisture.
- Heat 2 tbsp of the oil in a casserole dish or saucepan. Tip in the onion and a pinch of salt, and cook over a low heat for 10 mins. Add the garlic and chilli, and cook for 1 min. Tip in the tomatoes and sugar, and bring to the simmer. Cook, uncovered, for 20 mins, stirring occasionally. Heat the oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7.
- Pat the aubergine dry with kitchen paper, then toss with the remaining oil. Spread out on a baking sheet and roast for 25-30 mins until softened and golden around the edges. Meanwhile, cook the pasta following pack instructions, reserving 100ml of the cooking water.
- Stir the aubergine into the sauce with the basil and capers. Season to taste, then toss the spaghetti in the pan with the sauce and a splash of the pasta water. Divide between four bowls and top with the ricotta and extra basil, if using.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 517 calories, Fat 13 grams fat, SaturatedFat 2 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 79 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 15 grams sugar, Fiber 10 grams fiber, Protein 15 grams protein, Sodium 1.7 milligram of sodium
PASTA ALLA NORMA SORTA
Say "ciao" to your new pasta alla Norma. This updated version of the Sicilian classic includes prosciutto, which is fried until golden. Its rendered fat is used to start the dish and provide a rich, nuanced flavor, and the cooked bits are used to finish it for a salty crunch. To save on time, the eggplant roasts while a quick sauce of cherry and canned tomatoes, shallots, garlic and chile comes together on the stovetop. Just before serving, the eggplant, pasta and mozzarella (in place of the traditional ricotta salata) are tossed together until melty and delicious. Some rules are worth breaking.
Provided by Colu Henry
Categories dinner, for two, weekday, pastas, main course
Time 45m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Heat the oven to 425 degrees. On a large rimmed sheet pan, toss the eggplant with 1/4 cup olive oil and season well with salt and pepper. Spread everything evenly in one layer and roast until golden, 25 to 30 minutes, flipping halfway through to ensure even browning.
- While the eggplant roasts, make your sauce: In a deep, 12-inch skillet, heat the remaining olive oil over medium. Add the prosciutto and cook, stirring occasionally, until it begins to crisp and brown in spots, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from skillet and place on a paper towel-lined plate.
- Add the shallot, garlic and chile to the pan and cook, stirring frequently, until the shallot has softened and the garlic is fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add the cherry tomatoes and cook until they start to burst, pressing the tomatoes gently down with the back of a spatula or wooden spoon to help them along, 5 to 7 minutes. You want some of them to collapse and some to maintain their structure. Stir in the diced tomatoes with their juices and season with salt and pepper. Simmer while the eggplant finishes roasting, about 15 minutes more. If the sauce appears dry, add 1/4 cup pasta water.
- While you're making the sauce, bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup pasta cooking water, then drain pasta.
- When the eggplant is done, add it to the tomato sauce and stir to combine. Add the pasta and toss until everything is well coated with sauce, adding more pasta water if needed. Stir in the mozzarella and toss until it begins to melt.
- Serve in the skillet or in bowls and top each portion with crispy prosciutto and fresh herbs. Season with flaky salt, if using.
Tips:
- Use high-quality ingredients: The quality of your ingredients will greatly impact the final dish. Use fresh, ripe tomatoes, high-quality olive oil, and authentic Italian pasta.
- Cook the pasta al dente: Pasta should have a slightly firm bite to it. Cooking it al dente will ensure that it retains its shape and texture in the sauce.
- Make sure the sauce is well-balanced: The sauce should have a good balance of sweetness from the tomatoes, saltiness from the anchovies and capers, and creaminess from the ricotta cheese.
- Don't overcrowd the pan: When cooking the eggplant, don't overcrowd the pan. This will prevent the eggplant from cooking evenly and becoming soggy.
- Garnish with fresh basil: Fresh basil adds a beautiful pop of color and flavor to the dish. It's the perfect finishing touch.
Conclusion:
Pasta alla Norma is a classic Sicilian dish that is sure to impress your friends and family. It's a delicious and flavorful pasta dish that is perfect for any occasion. With its combination of fresh, seasonal ingredients and simple, rustic flavors, Pasta alla Norma is a dish that is sure to become a favorite.
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