Pasta alla Norma is a traditional Sicilian pasta dish made with a flavorful tomato sauce and eggplant.Learn how to make it with this easy recipe! Jeanine Donofrio Phoebe MoorePublished Jul 19, 2026 Jump to recipe Eggplant lovers, this pasta alla Norma recipe is for you! Eggplant skeptics, I think you’ll actually get behind this Sicilian pasta too.It stars a garlicky tomato sauce filled with tender eggplant slices.

The eggplant practically melts into the sauce, thickening it and adding rich flavor.I round it out with ricotta salata cheese and a shower of fresh basil.Pasta alla Norma is a classic Italian pasta dish that originated in Sicily, in the city of Catania.My recipe has traditional flavors, featuring a tomato sauce with eggplant, ricotta salata, and basil, but I roast the eggplant instead of frying it.

I think roasting is easier—it’s entirely hands-off, leaving you free to cook the pasta and start the tomato sauce.I also love that the eggplant caramelizes in the oven with less oil than you’d use on the stovetop.This pasta alla Norma recipe is one of the eggplant recipes I make every summer, along with eggplant Parmesan, caponata, ratatouille… Like all those dishes, it’s a delicious, classic way to use eggplant while it’s in season.I hope you love it as much as I do! Pasta Alla Norma IngredientsHere’s what you’ll need to make this pasta alla Norma recipe: Eggplant, of course! I typically use Italian globe eggplants or graffiti eggplants

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