CLASSIC

PASTA ALLA NORMA

MEDIUM | 60 minutes

The protagonist of this recipe: Aged and Salted Ricotta Cheese

Presentation

A work of art of Sicilian cuisine, which seems to have taken its name from the work NORMA by Vincenzo Bellini, authentic from Catania. Whether this is true or not, however, it is certain that it is a symphony of Mediterranean flavours, a game of ingredients and colours, from the red of the tomato to the green of the basil, from the purple of the aubergines to the gold of the pasta, which tell the world the Mediterranean nature that the whole world appreciates.

Ingredients

4 people

Rigatoni 280 g
Purple aubergines 2
Vine tomatoes 2
Garlic to taste
Oil to taste
Basil to taste
Aged and Salted Ricotta Cheese 100 g
Salt to taste
Sugar to taste
Peanut oil for frying to taste

Method

Boil plenty of salted water and, in the meantime, start preparing the ingredients for pasta alla Norma.

Cube aubergines and tomatoes. Fry the aubergines, drain them and let the oil dry on a sheet of paper towel.

Put a little bit of oil in a large pan, add garlic and tomatoes, brown over low heat and let simmer.

When almost cooked, add basil and aubergines.

Drain the rigatoni in the sauce pan, add a part of the salted ricotta and whisk well.

To complete the pasta alla Norma, grate the rest of the Matured Sheep Ricotta directly onto the plate and serve hot.

Where was Norma born?

Pasta alla Norma was born in Catania around the early 1900s.

Why is it called Norma?

It is said that the name was given to the recipe by the Sicilian playwright Nino Martoglio who, in front of a plate of pasta seasoned in this way, exclaimed "It's a Norma!", referring to the famous work by Vincenzo Bellini, to compare the degree of goodness and his appreciation.

Who invented pasta alla norma?

It seems it was the Sicilian playwright Nino Martoglio who gave the name to this dish because, after tasting it, he exclaimed "It's a Norma!" comparing it to the famous work of Vincenzo Bellini and therefore indicating its perfection.

What does pasta alla Norma have to do with opera?

The first course and Bellini's work are said to be linked by several coincidences. in fact, it seems that pasta alla Norma was presented publicly for the first time on the same evening as the world premiere of Bellini's opera, on 26 December 1831. Other sources instead maintain that "pasta alla Norma" was invented precisely in honor of the composer to whom the Catania theater is dedicated today.