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Pasta alla Norma

Name: Pasta alla Norma
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: Serves 2
Cuisine: Italian recipes
Ingredients: 1 large aubergine; 3 tbsp olive oil; 2 garlic cloves, crushed; 400g can plum tomatoes; 150g dried rigatoni; Small handful basil leaves, torn; 30g ricotta salata or pecorino cheese (or vegetarian equivalent), finely grated

By: Emily Gussin
Food producer and sustainability lead, delicious.

Published: 7 Feb 23
Updated: 18 Mar 24

Aubergine is the star in this celebration of late summer. Sicily’s iconic pasta dish is deliciously simple and requires only a handful of ingredients and it remains one of our all-time favourite pasta sauces.

Discover some of our favourite summer pasta recipes here.

Easy
October 2022

Test kitchen approved

Serves 2
Hands-on time 10 min, plus standing, simmering 20 min

Discover some of our favourite summer pasta recipes here.

Nutrition: per serving

Calories: 562kcals
Fat: 23g (5.6g saturated)
Protein: 18.6g
Carbohydrates: 65.3g (11.8g sugars)
Fibre: 9.5g
Salt: 0.3g salt

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Ingredients

1 large aubergine
3 tbsp olive oil
2 garlic cloves, crushed
400g can plum tomatoes
150g dried rigatoni
Small handful basil leaves, torn
30g ricotta salata or pecorino cheese (or vegetarian equivalent), finely grated

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Method

Chop the aubergine into 2cm chunks and put in a colander. Sprinkle with salt then leave to sit for 10 minutes to draw out the excess moisture. Wipe with kitchen paper.
Heat the oil in a large frying pan over a medium heat then add the aubergine in a single layer (work in batches if needed). Cook for 5-8 minutes until softened and golden. Add the garlic and cook for another minute. Stir in the tomatoes, breaking them up with a wooden spoon or your hands as you do so. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for about 15 minutes until the sauce has thickened.
Meanwhile, cook the pasta in a pan of salted boiling water until al dente (about 8 minutes). Reserve a little of the cooking water before draining. Stir the cooked pasta into the aubergine sauce, adding enough of the cooking water to help it emulsify. Add the basil then serve topped with the pecorino.