Recipes from Italy

  • Recipes
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Subscribe
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    Home » Pasta Recipes

    Authentic Italian Pasta alla Norma Recipe

    Published: Apr 17, 2023 · Modified: Apr 16, 2025 by Silvana Nava · This post may contain affiliate links

    Jump to Recipe

    Have you ever tried Pasta alla Norma? If not, you're in for a treat! This traditional Sicilian dish is bursting with flavor and has become a staple in Italian cuisine. Named after the famous opera "Norma" by Vincenzo Bellini, this dish is a tribute to the beautiful island of Sicily, where eggplant and tomatoes are plentiful.

    Pasta alla Norma is a simple dish that combines the rich flavors of eggplant, tomatoes, garlic, and basil, all tossed together with perfectly cooked pasta. The ingredients come together in a harmony of flavors that is sure to satisfy your cravings. The dish has since become a beloved classic in Sicilian cuisine and beyond.

    pasta alla norma

    What sets pasta alla norma apart from other pasta dishes is its simplicity. The ingredients are fresh, flavorful, and easy to find. The eggplant is fried until tender and caramelized, while the tomatoes are cooked down to create a rich and tangy sauce. The garlic and basil add a burst of flavor that ties everything together.

    In this recipe, I'll show you how to make authentic Pasta alla Norma, step-by-step. I'll explore the history of this beloved dish and its cultural significance in Sicilian cuisine.

    So grab a glass of wine, put on some Italian music, and get ready to experience the flavors of Sicily with Pasta alla Norma!

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • Kitchen Tools and Equipments
    • Instructions
    • Storage
    • Variations
    • Origins of the Name
    • Recipe Card


    Ingredients

    pasta alla norma ingredients

    Prep Time: 20 Min | Cook Time: 40 Min | Servings: 4

    • 350 g (12 oz) rigatoni pasta (penne or fusilli are also good choices)
    • 500g (1.1 pound) of eggplant (about two eggplants)
    • 200 g (7 oz) of ricotta salata cheese
    • 500 g (1.1 pound) of grape tomatoes or San Marzano
    • 2 cloves of garlic
    • 7-8 leaves of fresh basil for the sauce + more to decorate
    • Salt, to taste
    • 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
    • ½ liter (2 cups) of oil for frying

    Kitchen Tools and Equipments

    Here are some of the kitchen tools we used to make Pasta alla Norma recipe.

    • The first thing to do is to get a fairly large and wide saucepan. You will be seasoning the pasta in the saucepan along with the tomato sauce, so you need room to mix well. We opted for this stainless steel 5-qt sauté pan with helper handle and lid.
    • Cooked tomatoes must be passed through a food mill to remove the skin and the seeds, then get yourself a stainless steel food mill with a set of 3 discs so you can choose the consistency of your sauce.
    • You will need a frying pan to fry the eggplant or a deep fryer.
    • Finally, very useful for grating salted ricotta, we suggest a grater with large holes.

    Instructions

    The Tomato Sauce

    Pasta alla Norma Recipe step 1

    Step 1) - Take the tomatoes, rinse and dry them then cut into pieces.

    In a large saucepan add 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil. Then, over medium heat, sauté two garlic cloves, peeled and left whole so that if you wish you can remove them. Cook for 2 or 3 minutes.

    Pasta alla Norma Recipe step 2

    Step 2) - Now add the tomatoes, stir and cover with a lid. Cook over low heat for about 20 minutes, until the tomatoes are soft and have released their sauce.

    Pasta alla Norma Recipe step 3

    Step 3) - Once ready, transfer the tomatoes in a food mill placed on a bowl and pass them in order to obtain a juicy and smooth sauce.

    Pasta alla Norma Recipe step 4

    Step 4) - Transfer the tomatoes sauce back to the saucepan and add a pinch of salt to taste.

    Then simmer gently for another 10-15 minutes until the sauce has thickened. Meanwhile, bring salted water to a boil to cook the pasta.

    Fry the Eggplants

    Pasta alla Norma Recipe step 5

    Step 5) - Wash the eggplants, dry them well, then cut into thin slices, about 5 millimeter thick (about 0,20 inch). The thinner the better.

    Some prefer to cut the eggplants into cubes, but for greater crunchiness and the final look of the dish, we prefer to make very thin slices.

    Pasta alla Norma Recipe step 6

    Step 6) - Fry the eggplants. If you have to fry a large amount of eggplant for many people, a deep fryer can be very convenient and useful, otherwise for a dose for 4 people the classic frying pan is fine. You will consume less oil!

    That said, as they are golden brown, drain them with a skimmer.

    Pasta alla Norma Recipe step 7

    Step 7) - Transfer them to a tray covered with a kitchen paper towel to absorb the excess oil then add fine salt to taste.

    Cook the Pasta, Season and Serve

    Pasta alla Norma Recipe step 8

    Step 8) - Add the basil leaves to the tomato sauce. Cook the pasta al dente, drain and pour directly into the saucepan. Stir well to flavor.

    Pasta alla Norma Recipe step 9

    Step 9) - Grate plenty of ricotta salata cheese, not too finely (use a grater with large holes). Finally, place the pasta seasoned with the tomato sauce in a dish, add some fried eggplant on top, sprinkle a little grated ricotta salata, add a couple of basil leaves to decorate and serve.

    pasta alla norma

    YOU MUST ALSO TRY:

    • Authentic Caponata Recipe
    • Paccheri with Eggplant and Swordfish
    • Eggplant Lasagna
    • Italian Eggplant Meatballs
    • Breaded Eggplant Cutlets
    • Eggplant Parmigiana (Parmigiana di Melanzane)
    • Easy Eggplant Pizza Recipe (Pizzette di Melanzane)

    Storage

    Pasta alla Norma is a dish that should be enjoyed freshly made. If you cook the pasta perfectly al dente, you can keep it in the refrigerator for the next day but no longer.

    So put the pan with the pasta alla Norma leftovers to reheat on low heat with a little oil, stirring everything together. Or reheat pasta alla Norma in the oven for 15 minutes at 160°C (320 F).

    Obviously you will lose the crunchiness of the fried eggplant but the flavor will still be great!

    Freezing is not recommended.

    Variations

    Pasta alla norma is a typical Sicilian dish made with ingredients such as short pasta (usually rigatoni), peeled tomatoes, fried eggplant, ricotta salata, and fresh basil.

    However, there are some regional or adapted variations of the recipe that may be popular in different parts of Italy. Here are some of these variations:

    • Cherry Tomatoes: Add fresh, halved cherry tomatoes to the tomato sauce for a sweeter flavor.
    • Zucchini: Replace the eggplant with diced zucchini sautéed in a pan with a little oil.
    • Mozzarella: Add fresh diced mozzarella cheese at the end of cooking for a creamier, more delicate flavor.
    • Ricotta: It is often difficult to find salted ricotta. We recommend replacing it with fresh ricotta. The dish will certainly be creamier.

    pasta alla norma

    Origins of the Name

    Pasta alla Norma is a traditional Sicilian recipe that was created in Catania in the early 1900s.

    The name of the recipe is a tribute to "La Norma", the famous opera by composer Vincenzo Bellini. The Sicilian playwright Nino Martoglio is said to have exclaimed, "This is a Norma!" to describe the wonderful symphony of flavors of this pasta recipe, comparing it to Vincenzo Bellini's famous opera.

    In fact, this dish is a combination of Mediterranean flavors and ingredients that blend perfectly like the elements of an orchestra: fried eggplant, tomatoes, garlic, fresh basil and ricotta salata are the wonderful protagonists of this great recipe!

    September 23, the day of Vincenzo Bellini's death, is National Pasta alla Norma Day and is celebrated in many Italian restaurants around the world.

    pasta alla norma

    Recipe Card

    STEP BY STEP PHOTOS ABOVE!Have a look at my step-by-step photo instructions, variations and tips. That way, you can get it perfect the first time you try it!
    pasta alla norma recipe

    Authentic Pasta alla Norma Recipe

    Silvana Nava
    Have you ever tried Pasta alla Norma? If not, you're in for a treat!
    This traditional Sicilian dish is bursting with flavor and has become a staple in Italian cuisine. Named after the famous opera "Norma" by Vincenzo Bellini, this dish is a tribute to the beautiful island of Sicily, where eggplant and tomatoes are plentiful.
    Pasta alla Norma is a simple dish that combines the rich flavors of eggplant, tomatoes, garlic, and basil, all tossed together with perfectly cooked pasta. The ingredients come together in a harmony of flavors that is sure to satisfy your cravings.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Saved!
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Prep Time 20 minutes mins
    Cook Time 40 minutes mins
    Total Time 1 hour hr
    Course pasta
    Cuisine Italian
    Servings 4
    Calories 530 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 350 g rigatoni pasta - 12 oz, penne or fusilli are also good choices
    • 500 g eggplant - 1.1 pound (about two eggplants)
    • 200 g ricotta salata cheese - 7 oz
    • 500 g fresh tomatoes - 1.1 pound, grape tomatoes or San Marzano
    • 2 cloves garlic
    • 7-8 leaves fresh basil - for the sauce + more to decorate
    • fine salt
    • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
    • ½ liter oil for frying - 2 cups

    Instructions
     

    • Take the tomatoes, rinse and dry them then cut into pieces.
    • In a large saucepan add 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil. Then, over medium heat, sauté two garlic cloves, peeled and left whole so that if you wish you can remove them. Cook for 2 or 3 minutes.
    • Add the tomatoes, stir and cover with a lid. Cook over low heat for about 20 minutes, until the tomatoes are soft and have released their sauce.
    • Once ready, transfer the tomatoes in a food mill placed on a bowl and pass them in order to obtain a juicy and smooth sauce.
    • Transfer the tomatoes sauce back to the saucepan and add a pinch of salt to taste.
    • Then simmer gently for another 10-15 minutes until the sauce has thickened. Meanwhile, bring salted water to a boil to cook the pasta.
    • Wash the eggplants, dry them well, then cut into thin slices, about 5 millimeter thick (about 0,20 inch). The thinner the better. Some prefer to cut the eggplants into cubes, but for greater crunchiness and the final look of the dish, we prefer to make very thin slices.
    • Fry the eggplants
    • As they are golden brown, drain them with a skimmer.
    • Transfer them to a tray covered with a kitchen paper towel to absorb the excess oil then add fine salt to taste.
    • Add the basil leaves to the tomato sauce. Cook the pasta al dente, drain and pour directly into the saucepan. Stir well to flavor.
    • Grate plenty of ricotta salata cheese, not too finely (use a grater with large holes).
    • Finally, place the pasta seasoned with the tomato sauce in a dish, add some fried eggplant on top, sprinkle a little grated ricotta salata, add a couple of basil leaves to decorate and serve.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 100gCalories: 530kcalCarbohydrates: 80gProtein: 19gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 26mgSodium: 56mgPotassium: 839mgFiber: 8gSugar: 10gVitamin A: 1339IUVitamin C: 21mgCalcium: 150mgIron: 2mg
    Keyword pasta alla norma recipe
    Tried this recipe?Mention @recipesfromitaly or tag #recipesfromitaly!

    More Pasta Recipes

    • shrimp pasta salad with zucchini and lemon
      Shrimp Pasta Salad with Zucchini and Lemon
    • pasta with ricotta and lemon
      Easy and Creamy Lemon Ricotta Pasta (Ready in 10 Minutes!)
    • Authentic Spaghetti all'Assassina Recipe
      Spaghetti all’Assassina (Crispy Spicy Burnt Pasta from Bari)
    • spaghetti allo scoglio
      Spaghetti allo Scoglio (Italian Seafood Pasta Recipe)
    486 shares
    • Share
    • Tweet
    5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Barbara & Silvana

    CIAO! Barbara & Silvana here! We are the authors of these amazing Italian recipes. Living in Italy, they are part of our culture, tradition and everyday life. And we want to share them with you all, straight from Italy! Learn more about us! Read our story!

    Italian Summer Recipes

    • gianduia gelato recipe
      Gianduia Gelato (Italian Chocolate Hazelnut Ice Cream)
    • apricot cake recipe with fresh apricots
      Italian Apricot Cake Recipe (with Fresh Apricots)
    • blueberry risotto
      Blueberry Risotto (Italian Risotto with Fresh Blueberries)
    • pasta alla checca recipe
      Pasta alla Checca (Roman Fresh Tomato Pasta)
    See more Italian Summer Recipes →

    Popular Recipes

    • authentic italian tiramisu recipe
      Authentic Italian Tiramisu Recipe
    • authentic carbonara recipe
      Traditional Spaghetti Carbonara Recipe
    • authentic italian gelato recipe
      How to Make Authentic Italian Gelato at Home
    • limoncello recipe
      Limoncello Recipe – Make Authentic Italian Limoncello at Home
    See more Popular Recipes →

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Cookie Policy
    • Disclaimer

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • About us
    • Contact

    As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2025 recipesfromitaly.com is a website of the company CIUMBIA S.A.S. - VAT 12138380964 - Milano

    486 shares

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    Let us know what you thought of this recipe:

    This worked exactly as written, thanks!
    My family loved this!
    Thank you for sharing this recipe

    Or write in your own words:

    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required

    Recipe Ratings without Comment

    Something went wrong. Please try again.