Best 6 Pasta Alla Normapasta Tossed With Fresh Tomato Sauce Flavor Recipes

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**Pasta alla Norma: A Flavorful Sicilian Dish**

Pasta alla Norma is a traditional Sicilian dish that combines the flavors of fresh tomatoes, eggplant, ricotta salata cheese, and basil. This iconic pasta dish is named after Vincenzo Bellini's opera Norma, which was performed in Catania, Sicily, in 1831. The combination of simple, fresh ingredients creates a delicious and satisfying meal that is perfect for any occasion. There are various recipes for Pasta alla Norma, some using different types of pasta, such as penne, rigatoni, or spaghetti. The eggplant can be fried, roasted, or grilled, and the tomato sauce can be made with fresh or canned tomatoes. The addition of ricotta salata cheese and basil adds a salty and aromatic touch to the dish. Whether you prefer a classic or a more modern interpretation, Pasta alla Norma is a versatile and flavorful dish that is sure to impress.

Let's cook with our recipes!

PASTA ALLA NORMA RECIPE



Pasta alla Norma Recipe image

Pasta alla norma is a satisfying Sicilian pasta with tender eggplant, tomato sauce, and ricotta salata cheese. All the comforting Italian flavors we love in just one pan. This is one vegetarian main dish that even meat lovers will enjoy.

Provided by Suzy Karadsheh

Categories     Dinner

Number Of Ingredients 10

2 eggplants ((about 2 pounds in total))
Kosher salt
Extra virgin olive oil
5 garlic cloves, (minced)
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
2 14.5- ounce cans diced tomatoes with their juices
1 ½ teaspoon dry oregano
¾ pound Rigatoni pasta
½ cup chopped fresh parsley
½ cup grated Ricotta salata

Steps:

  • Slice and Salt the Eggplant. Trim the eggplant and partially peel them in a striped pattern (zebra pattern). Slice them into ½ inch thick rounds. Season the eggplant slices with kosher salt on both sides and lay them flat for a few minutes (up to 30 minutes if you have the time). Wipe the eggplant dry and remove excess salt using a paper towel.
  • Heat the oven to 425 degrees F.
  • Roast the eggplant. Brush the bottom of a large sheet pan (or two) with extra virgin olive oil. Arrange the eggplant slices in the pans in one single layer (eggplant slices should not overlap, each should be comfortably touching the bottom of the sheet pan). Roast in the heated oven until deeply golden brown, anywhere from 35 to 40 minutes, turning over mid-way through.
  • Make the Sauce. Meanwhile, get going on the sauce. In a large deep pan, heat 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil over medium heat until shimmering. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes, lower the heat and cook, tossing regularly, until the garlic gains a little bit of color. Add the tomatoes (with their juices), oregano and a good pinch of kosher salt and black pepper. Bring the mixture to a quick boil, then lower the heat and let simmer briefly.
  • When ready, add the roasted eggplant to sauce. Let simmer while you cook the pasta.
  • Cook the pasta in boiling salted water according to package instructions (mine took about 11 minutes). Drain and combine the pasta with the eggplant and sauce (if needed, add a little bit of the pasta water and toss until the pasta is well-coated). Taste and adjust seasoning.
  • Add chopped parsley and grated ricotta salata cheese to finish.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 375.7 kcal, Carbohydrate 70.6 g, Protein 15 g, SaturatedFat 2.3 g, Cholesterol 12.1 mg, Sodium 54.1 mg, Fiber 9.9 g, ServingSize 1 serving

PASTA ALLA NORMA



Pasta alla Norma image

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

1 1/2 pounds eggplant
Olive oil as needed (at least 1/2 cup)
Salt and pepper
1 tablespoon chopped garlic
3 or 4 dried chiles
1 1/2 pounds tomatoes, chopped (canned are fine; about 1 can)
1 teaspoon good dried oregano, or 1 tablespoon fresh
1 pound long pasta
1/2 cup chopped parsley or basil
1/2 cup grated ricotta salata (or in a pinch, pecorino Romano)

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

PASTA ALLA NORMA....PASTA TOSSED WITH FRESH TOMATO SAUCE, FLAVOR



Pasta Alla Norma....Pasta Tossed With Fresh Tomato Sauce, Flavor image

This dish originated in the city of Catania in Sicily, the home of the famous Italian composer Vincenzo Bellini. Although there are conflicting stories exactly how the dish was named and by who, most believe it was in honor of Bellini and his famous opera "Le Norma" composed in 1831. The dish is actually quite simple yet surprisingly deliciously. Pasta is tossed with fresh tomato sauce, seared eggplant and shredded ricotta salata cheese just before serving. Individual flavors are retained and complimented when combined. The fresh sauce is usually traditional, made with olive oil, garlic, onion, fresh peeled or good quality canned tomatoes from Italy, and plenty of fresh basil. My recipe replaces garlic and olive oil with Peter's Garlic Oil; olive oil infused with pot roasted garlic, Tuscany seasoning and a hint of red pepper flakes. It adds terrific complex flavors to the sauce while seasoning the eggplant. Preparation of the eggplant is important. It is peeled and thick sliced lengthwise. The eggplant is then "sweated" with salt to release its dark bitter liquid. If electing to cook the eggplant by sautéing, lightly coat the pan with oil from Peter's Garlic Oil. If oven baking, liberally brush slices with the seasoned olive oil and place on cookie sheets. Brush with enough additional flavored oil to keep the eggplant from drying out. Either way, be careful to remove the eggplant as soon as the slices are cooked through. Please don't overcook. However, my very favorite way is to liberally brush the eggplant with the seasoned oil and grill both sides. Once lightly browned and grill marks appear, brush again with more garlic oil. Lower heat and place eggplant on a sheet of aluminum foil on the grates for final cooking. Grilling really intensifies the flavor of the eggplant. Ricotta Salata is salted cheese made from the whey of sheep's milk. It is the cheese most associated with this dish. Our family was partial to Pecorino Romano, another salty cheese.

Provided by Peter Steriti

Categories     One Dish Meal

Time 2h45m

Yield 6 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 10

3/4 cup olive oil
5 garlic cloves, with skins
1 teaspoon tuscany seasoning
1 pinch red pepper flakes
1/2 medium onion, sliced
1 (28 ounce) can good quality italian imported crushed tomatoes
3 inches sprig fresh basil
1 large eggplant
1 lb rigatoni pasta or 1 lb your favorite pasta
1/2 cup grated ricotta salata or 1/2 cup pecorino romano cheese

Steps:

  • Pete's Garlic Oil, place olive oil in a butter melting pot. Remove the rough tips of garlic and cut cloves in half lengthwise. Add to pot along with Tuscany seasoning and red pepper flakes. Turn heat to medium. When the oil just begins to simmer lower heat enough to maintain.
  • Remove garlic skins when released. Continue simmering until cloves tan and soften; monitor their progress. Heat can be increased slightly to hasten the process being careful not to burn garlic.
  • Sauté onion in ¼ cup of oil from Peter's Garlic Oil in a pot. When translucent, remove onion. Simmer tomatoes and the sprig of basil in the same pot for about 45 minutes, adding water, salt and pepper as needed.
  • Peel and slice eggplant lengthwise about ¼ inch thick. Lightly salt the eggplant on both sides and place in a pasta colander over the sink or a pot. After a half hour or so the eggplant will "sweat" its dark, bitter liquid. Wipe the salt off, rinse and dry on paper towels.
  • When mostly dry, brush both sides with the oil from Peter's Garlic Oil. Grill on medium heat until lightly browned on both sides. Brush with additional oil and finish cooking by placing slices on a sheet of aluminum foil on grill over low heat or in a cookie tray in the oven. When cooked through, cut eggplant into 1 inch squares. You can also use one of the other methods, sautéing or oven cooked, both discussed above.
  • To assemble, cook pasta al dente and strain. Place pasta in a bowl. Remove sprig of basil from the tomato sauce. Mix pasta with desired amount of sauce. Add and mix eggplant into the pasta with tomato sauce reserving enough to place some on top as a garnish. Grate Ricotta Salata or Pecorino Romano over each plate to taste (not shown so you can see texture) and serve.
  • Option, add a second can of tomatoes when cooking the sauce. Use as additional sauce over the pasta if you prefer a slightly wetter sauce. If not, simply reserve the excess. This delicious sauce will never be wasted!

Nutrition Facts : Calories 602.4, Fat 30.9, SaturatedFat 4.7, Cholesterol 63.8, Sodium 193.8, Carbohydrate 70.7, Fiber 8.4, Sugar 4, Protein 14.1

PASTA ALLA NORMA SORTA



Pasta Alla Norma Sorta image

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

Kosher salt
10 ounces mezzi rigatoni or rigatoni
1 1/2 pounds eggplant, unpeeled, cut into 1/2-inch dice
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
Black pepper
3 ounces prosciutto, roughly chopped into 1- to 1 1/2-inch pieces
1 medium shallot, thinly sliced into rings
3 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
1 fresno or serrano chile, seeded, if you like, and thinly sliced into rings
1 1/2 pounds Sun Gold, cherry or grape tomatoes
1 (15-ounce) can diced tomatoes and their juices
4 ounces fresh mozzarella, finely chopped
1 cup roughly chopped fresh herbs, such as basil and mint
Flaky salt, for serving (optional)

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.

BALSAMIC-TOSSED PASTA WITH FRESH TOMATO, ARUGULA AND MOZZARELLA



Balsamic-Tossed Pasta With Fresh Tomato, Arugula and Mozzarella image

From Cooking Pleasures magazine. The heat from the pasta helps to melt the cheese and warm the sauce. You can also use a combination of basil and arugula for a tomato caprice taste.

Provided by CookGordon

Categories     < 60 Mins

Time 45m

Yield 4 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 9

2 cups tomatoes, seeded and chopped (2 large)
2 cups arugula, coarsely chopped
2 garlic cloves, chopped
8 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese, cut into small cubes
1 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
12 ounces penne pasta (strozzapreti if available)
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

Steps:

  • Make sauce: In large bowl, stir together tomatoes, arugula, garlic, mozzarella, salt, pepper and oil. Refrigerate 30 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, cook pasta in large pot of boiling salted water according to package directions; drain. Toss with sauce. Add vinegar; toss.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 616.3, Fat 28.2, SaturatedFat 9.6, Cholesterol 44.8, Sodium 947.3, Carbohydrate 73.6, Fiber 10.8, Sugar 3.2, Protein 20.1

CLASSIC PASTA ALLA NORMA



Classic Pasta alla Norma image

This is down-home, primal Sicilian cooking, using inexpensive and commonly available ingredients: olive oil, eggplant, tomato and pasta. A showering of grated ricotta salata and toasted bread crumbs adorns this humble yet justly famous dish. The Sicilian composer Vincenzo Bellini adored it with such a passion that it was eventually named after his 19th-century opera "Norma" - or so goes the story.

Provided by David Tanis

Categories     dinner, lunch, pastas, main course

Time 30m

Yield 4 to 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 11

Extra-virgin olive oil
1 small onion, diced
Salt and pepper
2 garlic cloves, peeled
Pinch of crushed red pepper
12 basil leaves, plus a few basil sprigs for garnish
4 cups peeled, chopped tomatoes with juice, fresh or canned
3 or 4 small eggplants (about 2 pounds), peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
1 pound pasta, such as penne, rigatoncini or spaghetti
1 cup coarsely grated ricotta salata
1/4 cup toasted bread crumbs, preferably homemade

Steps:

  • Make a quick tomato sauce: Put 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large, deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions, season with salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 10 minutes.
  • Stir in garlic, red pepper and basil leaves and cook for 1 minute. Add tomatoes, stir and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to low and let sauce simmer gently for 20 minutes, until slightly thickened. Taste and adjust seasoning. Set aside. (Sauce may be prepared up to 2 days in advance.)
  • Meanwhile, bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil. Turn heat to low and cover pot until it's time to cook the pasta.
  • Put a wide cast-iron pan over medium-high heat. Add 4 tablespoons olive oil to coat surface of pan. When oil is wavy, test by adding a cube of eggplant. It should begin to sizzle and brown immediately. Fill the pan with a single layer of eggplant cubes. Turn eggplant with a spatula or tongs and brown nicely on all sides. Lower heat as necessary to maintain an even temperature; if the pan is too hot, the eggplant will burn.
  • Remove cooked eggplant to a plate and continue to fry remaining eggplant in batches, adding more oil as necessary. Season finished eggplant with salt and pepper. (Alternatively, roast the eggplant on a baking sheet at 400 degrees, lightly drizzled with oil, until cooked and nicely browned, about 20 minutes.)
  • To assemble and serve, boil pasta until al dente, leaving it a little firmer than normal. Bring the tomato sauce to a simmer. Add eggplant to sauce and gently stir to combine. Reserve a cup of pasta cooking water, then drain pasta and add to sauce. Using 2 wooden spoons or tongs, toss pasta and sauce, and let cook 1 minute more. Thin sauce if necessary with a little pasta cooking water.
  • Transfer to a warmed wide pasta bowl. Sprinkle with grated ricotta salata and bread crumbs. Garnish with torn or whole basil leaves and a drizzle of olive oil, if desired.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 474, UnsaturatedFat 7 grams, Carbohydrate 74 grams, Fat 12 grams, Fiber 8 grams, Protein 18 grams, SaturatedFat 5 grams, Sodium 909 milligrams, Sugar 10 grams

Tips:

  • Use fresh, ripe tomatoes for the best flavor. If fresh tomatoes are unavailable, use good quality canned tomatoes.
  • Cook the tomatoes over medium heat to allow the flavors to develop. Do not boil the tomatoes, as this will make the sauce bitter.
  • Add a pinch of sugar to the sauce to help balance the acidity of the tomatoes.
  • Use a good quality olive oil. Extra virgin olive oil is the best choice, but a regular olive oil will also work.
  • Add a handful of fresh basil leaves to the sauce just before serving. This will add a bright, fresh flavor to the dish.
  • Serve the pasta with grated Parmesan cheese and a drizzle of olive oil.

Conclusion:

Pasta alla Norma is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that is perfect for a weeknight meal. The combination of fresh tomatoes, creamy ricotta cheese, and salty anchovies is simply irresistible. So next time you're looking for a quick and easy pasta dish, give Pasta alla Norma a try. You won't be disappointed!

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