Today, together with our Cesarina Gilda from Syracuse, we will discover the recipe for one of the most beloved and iconic dishes of Sicilian culinary tradition: Pasta alla Norma, a dish that has conquered palates all over the world.
Sicilian cuisine is renowned for its authenticity, sustainability, and the use of fresh, local ingredients, and Pasta alla Norma perfectly embodies these values. It’s a simple dish, yet full of flavors, where fried eggplant, fresh tomatoes, aromatic basil, and salted ricotta come together to create a unique culinary experience.
Why is Pasta alla Norma called that?
A curious detail we’d like to share with you concerns the name of this dish. It is said that Pasta alla "Norma" was named in homage to the opera "Norma" by the Catanian composer Vincenzo Bellini. According to a legend, a music critic tasted the dish and, so impressed by its taste, exclaimed that it was "a norma", meaning perfect, a true masterpiece. While we can't be entirely sure this is the true story behind the name, it’s fascinating to think that the dish was celebrated as a true culinary work of art.
Pasta alla Norma
A dish that represents the essence of Sicily
DifficultyMedium
Preparation time1h
Cooking time50m
Servings6
€
CostLow
Ingredients
- 500 g of fresh pasta (such as cavatelli or busiate)
For the sauce:- 1.5 kg of Marmande tomatoes from Pachino
- 2 cloves of Nubia red garlic
- Fresh basil, to taste
- 2 purple "seta" eggplants
- Extra virgin olive oil, to taste
- Salt, to taste
- Freshly grated salted ricotta
Method
Preparation of the eggplants:
- Slice the eggplants.
- Place them in a colander, salt them, and place a weight on top to help them release their water.
- After about 30 minutes, clean the slices well and fry them in plenty of extra virgin olive oil.
Preparation of the sauce:
- Sauté the garlic cloves in a bit of extra virgin olive oil.
- Add the tomatoes, cut into wedges, and fresh basil.
- Salt and cook until the sauce thickens.
- Pass the sauce through a fine sieve.
Preparation of the pasta:
- Cook the pasta in plenty of salted boiling water, and drain it when it is al dente.
Assembling the dish:
- Toss the pasta with the sauce and the fried eggplants.
- Add the freshly grated salted ricotta and garnish with a few more fresh basil leaves.
Sicilian Cooking Classes, Food Tours and Dinners
Ready for a 100% Sicilian journey? Discover our food experiences across the island, exploring beautiful cities like Palermo, Catania, and Syracuse. Visit vibrant local fish markets and join a cooking class to learn how to make authentic Sicilian dishes—from traditional pastas like busiati and alla Norma to sweet delights like cannoli. Sicily and its unforgettable flavors are waiting for you!
5 (2)
Cooking classes
Show cooking Pizza and Tiramisu my way!Hosted by Vanessa
Catania
€129 per guest
Shared Experience
5 (34)
Cooking classes
Hands-On cooking: ravioli and family secretsHosted by Maria Costanza
Messina
€135 per guest
Shared Experience
5 (5)
Cooking classes
Sicilian cooking class with Cesarina FernandaHosted by Fernanda Michela
Catania
€145 per guest
Shared Experience
4.9 (10)
Cooking classes
Let's cook parmigiana and ravioli with ricotta together.Hosted by Ewa
Syracuse
€145 per guest
Private Experience