Pasta la 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. (Photo: Sabra Krock for The New York Times)

By: Francesca Montillo, ISDA Food + Travel Writer In 2019, right before tourism shut down, I led a food and wine tour of Sicily. Of course, being just that, a food and wine tour, we had our share of delicious Sicilian cuisine. One dish that kept popping up in many restaurants was the dish simply known … Continued

Pasta alla Norma: Roasted eggplant, rich tomato sauce, and Pecorino cheese create a crowd-pleaser. Perfect for casual gatherings or special occasions. Enjoy this easy, hearty, and flavorful pasta dish!

Pasta alla Norma is classic Sicilian comfort food, where pasta is tossed in a chunky eggplant and tomato sauce. It's a great company dish, as well as meatless night option!

Nino Martoglio, a Sicilian writer and poet, was so impressed with this dish that he compared it to Norma, a popular opera of the day by Sicilian composer Vincenzo Bellini. It has been called Pasta alla Norma ever since. If you can't find ricotta salata by all means use good quality regular ricotta. It won't be the same dish but still well worth making.

You'll love this Sicilian eggplant pasta dish known as Pasta alla Norma! It features eggplants, tomato sauce and salty ricotta salata cheese.

Pasta a la Norma is a simple one pot pasta dish made with sauteed eggplant, tomatoes and fresh ricotta cheese. This classic Sicilian dish is quick, easy and delicious. If you are a fan of eggplant, you will love this recipe.

Like marinara’s fiery cousin, this classic tomato sauce comes together in about 30 minutes with just canned tomatoes, garlic, olive oil and crushed red pepper. Arrabbiata, which means angry in Italian, nods to the sauce’s spicy nature, but the aggressiveness of your sauce is up to you: Start with 1 teaspoon of crushed red pepper for a noticeable tingle in the back of your throat, or double up for additional intensity. (One word of caution: It’s hard to reverse a sauce that is too spicy, so…

This Lasagna Alla Norma takes a spin on the traditional Sicilian eggplant pasta dish. Layers of homemade tomato sauce with eggplant, no-boil lasagna noodles and creamy cheese filling create this cozy and vegetarian friendly lasagna. Keep this one on repeat all winter long!

Learn the secret to an amazing pasta alla norma dish! We teach you how to perfect this deliciously creamy, roasted eggplant pasta every time!