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Italian · Dinner

Pasta alla Norma

VegMedium

Diet: Veg

Pasta alla Norma is a Italian dish. Roast eggplant until tender through, not merely browned.

Prep
20 min
Cook
35 min
Total
55 min
Servings
4
Difficulty
Medium
Cuisine
Italian
Course
Dinner

Estimated times for the original batch. Preparation, cooking and listed waiting time are included. Batch cooking can take longer.

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Representative photograph of Pasta alla Norma.
Representative photograph of Pasta alla Norma. Garnishes and presentation may differ. Photo credit and licence
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Ingredients

Metric weights use grams. US weights use ounces; liquids use fluid ounces. Conversions are rounded. Spoon measures use 5 ml teaspoons and 15 ml tablespoons; cups use 240 ml.

Serves 4

Eggplant

Sauce

Pasta

Finish

Equipment

Kitchen scales; measuring jug and spoons; knife; cutting board; mixing bowls; oven; baking tray; oven gloves; saucepan with lid; sieve; heavy frying pan; spatula; heatproof spoon; spatula.

Check all product labels and cross-contact. Diet groups describe this listed recipe, not every substitution.

Steps

Roast · About 25 min

  1. Heat oven to 220°C / 425°F. Toss 600 g eggplant, cubed, 50 ml olive oil and roast 25 minutes, turning once.

    Check: The food must be hot through at 220°C / 425°F.

Sauce · About 20 min

  1. Simmer 15 g garlic, sliced, 600 g chopped tomatoes, ¾ tsp salt, 20 g basil in a pan 20 minutes; fold in roasted eggplant.

Pasta · About 7 min

  1. Boil 400 g rigatoni, 3000 ml water, 1 tsp salt per packet, drain and toss with sauce. Add 100 g ricotta salata, grated.

Tips

  • Roast eggplant until tender through, not merely browned.
  • Judge Pasta alla Norma by the texture and doneness signs in its steps. Your pan and heat affect how long Pasta alla Norma takes to cook.

Substitutions

  • In Pasta alla Norma, replace ricotta salata if needed with vegetarian hard cheese.

Storage

  • Get perishable Pasta alla Norma into the fridge within two hours, or within one hour above 32°C / 90°F. Eat Pasta alla Norma within two days, keeping it covered at 4°C / 40°F or colder.
  • Bring cooked Pasta alla Norma to 74°C / 165°F, stirring or turning it for even heating. When Pasta alla Norma is part of the meal, serve cold salads, dips and chilled desserts straight from safe refrigeration.
  • If Pasta alla Norma includes a thick sauce or soup, loosen it with a little water during gentle reheating. Any crisp coating on Pasta alla Norma becomes softer in storage.

Make ahead

  • Prepare the measured ingredients for Pasta alla Norma one day ahead. For Pasta alla Norma, refrigerate chopped vegetables apart from the other perishable ingredients. Follow the cooking stages for Pasta alla Norma on the day of serving.

FAQ

What matters most when making Pasta alla Norma?

Roast eggplant until tender through, not merely browned.

What can I substitute in Pasta alla Norma?

In Pasta alla Norma, replace ricotta salata if needed with vegetarian hard cheese.

Can I prepare Pasta alla Norma ahead?

Prepare the measured ingredients for Pasta alla Norma one day ahead. For Pasta alla Norma, refrigerate chopped vegetables apart from the other perishable ingredients. Follow the cooking stages for Pasta alla Norma on the day of serving.

Food safety references

FoodSafety.gov: cooking temperatures · Food Standards Agency: rice storage and reheating

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