One of my absolute favourite pasta dishes is Pasta alla Norma, a traditional Sicilian dish originally made in the city of Catania. It traditionally consists of pasta served with an eggplant and ricotta cheese sauce. The story goes that back in the 1800’s Nino Martoglio, a Sicilian writer and theatre director, was so impressed when he tasted this dish for the first time he proclaimed it ‘as good as Norma’, the title of a very popular opera at that time.
Pasta all Norma – Why Change a Classic?
Now don’t get me wrong, I love a good traditional Pasta alla Norma. However, I always feel it’s a bit lacking in veggies. I love so many other Mediterranean vegetables as well as eggplant and it seems a shame to leave them out. So the first twist on my Pasta alla Norma is that it contains mushrooms, red peppers and zucchini (courgettes) as well. This gives a thick, flavourful sauce chock full of veggies that really hits the spot.
The second twist is this – Traditionally Pasta alla Norma is made with penne pasta. Of course this sauce works perfectly well with any pasta you would like to use. However, my favourite way to serve Pasta alla Norma is with Fusilli Lunghi, a curly spaghetti that looks like the cords from the telephones we had when I was a kid.
In my heart of hearts, I prefer Parmesan cheese to ricotta so for a final twist to this recipe I’ve used that instead. I love the sharp flavour Parmesan provides in contrast to milder, creamier ricotta. You can use Parmegiano Reggiano or Gran Padano instead if you prefer.
A small wedge of any of these Italian cheeses can be expensive but they will keep for absolutely ages well wrapped in the fridge and the flavour is worth the splurge. If you are vegetarian, use a good vegetarian alternative. There are some really flavourful vegetarian and even vegan Parmesan style cheeses out there.
Pasta alla Norma – perfect for relaxed entertaining
Perfect for relaxed entertaining, Pasta alla Norma with a Twist is one of my family’s very favourite Meatless Monday dishes. It’s one of mine too because, aside from a little therapeutic vegetable chopping and simmering, this is a really quick and easy recipe to make. Open a bottle of good red wine, pour some grape juice for the kids, warm up some crusty bread or toss a salad to serve alongside, and dinner is served!
Printable recipe
- 1 pound Fusilli Lunghi (roughly 500 grams)
- or enough of your favourite pasta to serve 4
- 3 tablespoons mild olive oil, divided
- 1 red onion
- 1 cup mushrooms, quartered
- 1 eggplant (aubergine)
- 1 medium zucchini (courgette)
- 1 red pepper
- 2½ cups plain tomato sauce or passata (sieved tomatoes)
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- salt and freshly ground pepper
- Parmesan cheese to serve
- Put a large pot of water on to boil for the pasta.
- Peel and finely chop the onion.
- Cut the eggplant in pieces roughly one inch square.
- De-seed the red pepper and cut into pieces roughly one inch square.
- Top and tail the zucchini cut it in half lengthwise and then in half moons roughly half a quarter of an inch thick.
- Heat 1 tablespoon of the mild olive oil in a large deep frying pan (if possible one that has a lid as you’ll need it later) over medium heat.
- Sauté the onion for a minute or two and then add the eggplant.
- Continue to cook, stirring almost constantly so that the eggplant softens.
- You may need to gradually add a bit more oil as eggplant does really absorb it.
- Once the eggplant has begun to soften (about 5 to 7 minutes), add the mushrooms, zucchini and red pepper.
- Sauté the vegetables until they begin to pick up a bit of colour.
- Stir in the tomato sauce or passata as well as the basil and oregano.
- Add a pinch of salt and some freshly ground pepper to taste.
- Put the lid on the pan, lower the heat and simmer the sauce for ten to twenty minutes, stirring occasionally. (The longer the better, up to half an hour.)
- When you are ready to serve, cook the pasta in boiling salted water according to package directions.
- When the pasta is cooked, drain and divide between four plates, spooning the sauce over top.
- Garnish with grated or shaved Parmesan, Parmegiano Reggiano or Gran Padano cheese.
Katerina says
August 21, 2014 at 6:38 pmYou are so right summer has so many veggies that is a shame to be left out! Awesome dish!
April Harris says
August 22, 2014 at 9:37 amThank you, Katerina 🙂
Miz Helen says
August 22, 2014 at 10:48 pmHi April,
I just love the history of this dish. We would really enjoy the deep flavors of this fabulous Pasta dish. Thanks so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday and have a great weekend!
Come Back Soon!
Miz Helen
April Harris says
August 25, 2014 at 3:36 pmThank you, Miz Helen! I hope your weekend was wonderful too 🙂
Michelle says
September 6, 2014 at 8:08 pmWhat a nice vegetable sauce for pasta. My son loves eggplant and I am a huge fan of mushrooms. Good to know that Parm can be used rather than ricotta (ricotta is not one of my favorite things!).
Thank you for sharing with See Ya in the Gumbo this week, April.
April Harris says
September 8, 2014 at 11:09 amThank you, Michelle 🙂 It’s interesting, I feel exactly the same way about ricotta as you do!
Heidy McCallum@ The McCallum's Shamrock Patch says
September 12, 2014 at 5:03 pmThank you so much for adding your recipe link at our Grand Opening of #PureBlogLove . Your recipe look delicious! I hope to see you next week at 8 pm EST!
Have a great day
XoXo
Heidy
April Harris says
September 13, 2014 at 8:26 amMy pleasure, Heidy! xoxo
Julie says
June 15, 2015 at 12:43 pmHi April, wow I love this pasta dish you shared today at the Cooking & Crafting Link Up Party! Thanks and hope you come back again!
April Harris says
June 15, 2015 at 6:45 pmI’m so glad you like it, Julie! Thank you for hosting the party 🙂
Jess says
June 16, 2015 at 6:39 pmOh my gosh. This sounds so delicious! I could totally eat a HUGE bowl of this!
Thanks for joining Cooking and Crafting with J & J!
April Harris says
June 16, 2015 at 9:38 pmI’m so glad you like it, Jess! Thank you for hosting 🙂
Joy @ Joy Love Food says
June 19, 2015 at 1:48 amYum, this sounds delicious, I love that you’ve added more wonderful veggies!
Thanks for sharing at What’d You Do This Weekend? I hope you will join us again next Monday!
April Harris says
June 19, 2015 at 4:53 pmThank you, Joy 🙂 Have a lovely weekend!
Healing Tomato says
June 19, 2015 at 6:25 pmThis looks delicious. I love authentic family recipes. Great idea.
April Harris says
June 21, 2015 at 5:48 pmThank you so much, Rini 🙂
Patricia @ Grab a Plate says
June 19, 2015 at 8:35 pmIt’s been so long since I’ve had this, I’ve forgotten all about it! I’m so happy to see your recipe! YUM – one of my faves!
April Harris says
June 21, 2015 at 5:48 pmThank you, Patricia 🙂 It really is a lovely dish!
Catherine says
June 21, 2015 at 12:30 amDear April, I make a similar dish during busy weeks…it is so easy to whip up and always delicious. This is my idea of comfort food…a nice plate of pasta such as this, and what more do you need?! xo, Catherine
April Harris says
June 21, 2015 at 5:50 pmI agree, Catherine, there is nothing like a comforting dish of pasta 🙂 xo
Joanne T Ferguson says
June 21, 2015 at 9:20 amYour dish looks so warm and welcoming April Pinned and shared!
April Harris says
June 21, 2015 at 5:50 pmThank you, Joanne and thank you for pinning and sharing too!
Sarah Maison Cupcake says
June 22, 2015 at 7:41 pmThat looks great! You’d not miss the meat 🙂
April Harris says
June 23, 2015 at 7:36 amThank you, Sarah! The aubergine gives a really meaty texture 🙂
Tara says
June 22, 2015 at 8:01 pmThis is looking delish, can’t wait to make it!!
April Harris says
June 23, 2015 at 7:36 amThank you, Tara. I hope you and yours enjoy it!
Florian @ContentednessCooking says
June 23, 2015 at 6:49 pmThis looks fantastic, love all the fresh flavors and how easy to make this is, yum!
April Harris says
June 24, 2015 at 8:20 amThank you so much, Florian!
Hadia says
September 16, 2016 at 1:40 amI love any tomato based pasta with eggplant. And I guess the veggies you added enriched the flavor more! Looks so delicious and flavorful! Pinning and tweeting!
April Harris says
September 16, 2016 at 3:33 pmMe too, Hadia, it’s just such a great combination. Thank you for sharing my post!
Linda (Meal Planning Maven) says
January 23, 2018 at 12:39 amWhat a terrific family-friendly dinner April and I love that I have a new meatless choice to try. Have a wonderful week my friend!
April Harris says
January 23, 2018 at 12:37 pmThank you so much, Linda. I hope your week is lovely too! xo
Pauline Wiles says
January 25, 2018 at 4:26 pmMy gosh, I can’t wait to try Fusilli Lunghi! And I love dishes which are packed full of veggies, so thank you for this one!
April Harris says
January 26, 2018 at 8:23 amI’m so glad you like the sound of it, Pauline! Let me know what you think when you try it 🙂
Karren Haller says
March 22, 2019 at 8:19 pmI would love this, I am so hungry and it looks delicious!!! I have to make tomato based sauces just for me sometimes. Thank you for sharing on #omhgff this week!
Have a lovely weekend!
April Harris says
March 22, 2019 at 10:45 pmThank you, Karren! I love tomato based sauces too. Hope you have a lovely weekend as well!