How To Make Amazing Pasta Alla Norma

Today we're making Pasta alla Norma. This is a delicious Sicilian eggplant pasta recipe and if you've never tried it, you are in for a treat! We hope you enjoy it!

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****PRINT RECIPE WITH INSTRUCTIONS AND PROCESS SHOTS****
PASTA ALLA NORMA PRINT RECIPE:

INGREDIENTS WITH GRAM AMOUNTS

1 pound (454g) rigatoni
1 ½ pounds (680g) eggplant - cubed
¾ cup (160g) olive oil for frying eggplant
¼ (54g) cup extra virgin olive oil
5 cloves garlic - sliced
2 small anchovy fillets or 1-2 teaspoons anchovy paste
½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
3 ounces (85g) tomato paste
1 28-ounce (795g) can whole plum tomatoes hand crushed or blender pulsed
¼ packed cup basil
1 cup (110g) Ricotta Salata shredded
salt and pepper - to taste

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[SipandFeast]

There are so many comments wrongfully talking about female/male eggplants. Eggplants do not have a sex! Eggplants are hermaphrodites and have male and female parts on their flowers. The myth of a male/female eggplant has 100% been disproven. But don't take my word for it just use Google and find a food scientist or agriculture site. Seriously slit, flat, dimple, or whatever means nothing. I have been growing eggplant and cooking with it for over 20 years and I can tell you how to get few seeds. Pick them young when they are shiny and firm. That's it. Good luck.

This is one of our favorite pasta recipes and we make it frequently during the summer when eggplant is in season. The ingredients with gram amounts are in the description along with the linked print recipe. As always, thanks for liking and sharing our videos.

[CiViC]

This comment has nothing to do with the dish ☺️, but I have to say, you both are a joy to watch…very thoughtful, respectful and kind to one another.
I love the recipes, but your family makes the channel quite special!

[calendarpage]

Off topic comment - I love that Tara said, "You're welcome." Over time, couples often forget that they should be polite to each other - and to their children. I think people enjoy your channel as much for the family interaction as for the recipes.

[ImBarryScottCSS]

Tara's feedback is next level, that's what you want from your partner, kind hearted but honest.

[bobcampbell]

Jim’s wife (I’ve forgotten her name: mea culpa) is an excellent judge in addition to being a lovely person. She is a real critic, spelling out any deficiencies. Sip and Feast, for me, is the best cooking demonstration on YouTube, in spite of there being many other excellent examples! Bob Campbell

[aris]

“Pasta alla Norma”…. One of the most famous dishes of Sicilian regional cuisine, with a name also very famous in classical music and Italian opera.
Greetings here from Italy ! 👋

[nadiavazquez]

the flirty "i like your purple shirt 😏" was too cute. thanks for posting more vegetarian-friendly dishes, we've made so many from your channel that we're getting famous with our friends ❤

[aris]

“Paccheri”, as a type of pasta for this dish, was a good choice ! 👍
Here in Italy we often use, especially here in southern Italy, this kind of pasta for typical regional dishes.
PS: By the way, I must say that the lady behind the camera, she pronounced this kind of pasta very well.

[davidfeinberg]

As always, love that you keep the classics alive. Lived on this during the summer as a kid.
SEED TIP... Male eggplant have less seeds than female eggplant. Honest ! ! It's a thing ! ! Male eggplant will have a rounder mark on the bottom as opposed to female eggplant that have a more oblong mark.

[Pandeayote]

I usually don't get eggplant right, but I'm inspired to give this a try. Anything that has anchovies is a must.

[madamebutterfly]

I lived in Sicily for 3 years and my land lord made me pasta ala norma weekly, big plate on my door step every Sunday if i didnt join for lunch. Its the quintessential sicilian dish to me.

[theactualcanadian]

You guys, Josh Weismann, and Not Another Cooking Show are my personal holy trifecta of YT cooking shows (Also, Sam the Cooking Guy is a very honourable mention).

[janellek]

The best way to pick an aub...er...eggplant is to pick one that's dark purple and firm to the touch. If you press it with your thumb and it leaves an imprint then the fruit is overripe. Also, smaller ones tend to have more flavour than bigger ones.

[KoniB.]

I almost hate watching these videos. They get my mouth watering, my stomach growling, and my nose sniffing around to see if I can smell the sauce cooking somewhere. And then I end up eating something I really don't want or need and hate myself for not just buying and making this for dinner! How the heck these two stay so svelte is beyond my ken!

[chrisann]

I love eggplant and you are such a good teacher and really simplify things

[pdubb]

Coincidentally I just bought eggplant and rigatoni. Was going to make something along these lines. Only both grocers I checked were out of basil so I ended up with fresh oregano. And I'll be using an American parm-style cheese

[perryj]

About 20 years ago I ordered an almost identical dish named 'Rigatoni Melanzane' at a local restaurant. Didn't have a recipe, but have recreated this dish every summer since using homegrown Prosperosa eggplants. Great video!!

[annecain]

A simple, easy to make recipe with inexpensive ingredients which gives a really flavoursome meal. Thank you for demonstrating.

[lancelotdufrane]

You guys are such a pleasure. Great food and partnership.

[mystforest]

I am growing a lot of eggplants this summer and I am super happy you shared this recipe. I also just planted 10 San Marizano tomatoes, basils and peppers . Super excited to cook more dishes from your channel 😊! Thank you.