Pasta Alla Norma is a Sicilian dish that includes the combination of eggplant, tomato sauce and fresh basil. It is a delicious recipe that brings together the flavors of Mediterranean. If you are looking for a healthy pasta recipe, this is the perfect recipe for you!
Pasta Alla Norma Ingredients
This pasta includes healthy vegetables such as eggplant, tomatoes, garlic, and fresh basil. With few basic ingredients, Pasta Alla Norma is one of the best dishes which proves that complexity is not necessary for having a delicious meal.
Pasta: You can use dry pasta with any shape. We used Rotini Pasta for this classic pasta dish. Cooking time can vary depending on the pasta you use, and to avoid overcooking your pasta, you should follow the package instructions.
Marinara Sauce: Our The Perfect Simple Tomato Sauce recipe is just perfect for preparing the perfect marinara sauce, giving a perfect taste to the pasta. If you want this recipe to be more simple, you can use store-bought marinara sauce.
Eggplant: Two large eggplants are needed for this dish. If you enjoy eating pasta with less ingredients, you may use medium-sized eggplants either. We think, eggplant is one of the main ingredients in this recipe, which makes Pasta Alla Norma quite unique compared to other pasta recipes. For this reason, we recommend you to use enough eggplants.
Olive Oil: We all know that olive oil is an essential product used in Italian cuisine. Using natural, high-quality olive oil will make the dish flavorful.
Basic Spices: Dried oregano is perfect to give a fresh taste. Salt and black pepper are essential for adding flavor. Red pepper flakes are optional since it depends on your personal preferences.
Fresh Basil: Fresh basil is a common product in Italian cuisine. If you do not have access to this fresh leaves, you can use dried basil for the flavor.
Cheese: The original Pasta Alla Norma is made with ricotta salata cheese, which can be not accessible for everyone. However you can use pecorino cheese, Parmesan, or even mozzarella instead of ricotta salata. If you are following a vegan or dairy-free diet, you can prepare this dish without cheese.
How to Make Pasta Alla Norma?
The recipe is very easy and quick to prepare. All you need to do is to prepare basic ingredients and combine. Pasta Alla Norma is one of the simpliest yet delicious pastas you can make at home.
Start with Eggplants: Firstly, start by peeling the eggplants. We usually peel them with strips, which means you peel a thin, long piece, leave another strip, and peel another strip, which will create a stripped shape. Then, cut the eggplants into small cubes. Let them wait in salted water to draw out the bitterness for 30 minutes. Afterwards, pat them dry with paper towel and fry them in olive oil above high heat.
Prepare the Marinara Sauce: Marinara sauce is simply made with tomatoes, garlic, onion, olive oil, herbs and spices. It is very easy to prepare if you have all the ingredients. You can also check out our The Perfect Simple Tomato Sauce for the best simple tomato sauce recipe.
Cook the Pasta: There are many different types of pastas with different shapes and cooking times. You should follow the package instructions to cook your pasta in the best way you can. All you need to do is, reserving 1/2 cup of pasta water to add into the sauce later.
Combine Everything: The best part of the cooking process is combining all ingredients and having the pasta ready. After that transfer the drained pasta into marinara sauce, add the eggplants and stir well until mixed evenly.
Serving: Serve the Pasta Alla Norma hot, with ricotta salata cheese for the classic version. If you have no access to this traditional type of cheese, you can use pecorino cheese, Parmesan, or even Mozzarella. If you are on diary-free or vegan diet, you can serve it without cheese.
Ingredients
- 450g dry pasta
- Marinara sauce (The Perfect Simple Tomato Sauce)
- 2 large eggplants
- 4 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, torn
- Salt and black pepper
- 1/2 cup grated ricotta salata or pecorino cheese
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions
- Start by peeling the eggplants. Cut peeled eggplants into small cubes and sprinkle salt over them. Let them wait in salt to draw out the bitterness. After 30 minutes, rinse and dry the eggplants.
- Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a skillet to fry eggplant. Once oil is heated, add the eggplant and cook until golden brown and soft. Transfer the fried eggplants to a plate.
- Use marinara sauce (The Perfect Simple Tomato Sauce), adding oregano, and red pepper flakes (if using) along with salt and black pepper. Stir well and simmer the sauce for about 10 minutes to blend the flavors.
- Cook the dry pasta in a large pot of boiling, salted water according to the package instructions, until al dente. Drain the pasta, reserving about 1/2 cup of the cooking water.
- Add the cooked pasta and the reserved cooking water to the sauce. Stir well to coat the pasta with the tomato sauce. Add the cooked eggplant and the torn basil leaves. Mix everything gently until the eggplant and basil are evenly distributed. Sprinkle the grated ricotta salata or pecorino cheese over the pasta and gently stir again to incorporate the cheese.
- Serve the Penne alla Norma hot, garnished with some extra torn basil leaves and an extra sprinkle of cheese, if desired.
Notes
Salting the eggplants is important to take the bitterness of the eggplants and extract their juice. After salting the eggplants, let them sit for at least 30 minutes, then rinse thoroughly and dry.