Macaroni alla Norma

Macaroni alla Norma with the main, if indispensable, ingredient: eggplant. This vegetable, which has been underestimated for years, wasn’t helped by its name either, as it was read as ‘mela insana’, implying something indigestible and not good to eat. Fortunately, over time, Italians also began to love it, along with tomatoes and peppers, we can say that eggplants encapsulate the essence of summer. Paired with macaroni, it creates a perfect team like that of Norma, a winning combination of Sicilian ferretto macaroni, aged salted ricotta or Sicilian pecorino, tomato, and plenty of basil, thus bringing an extraordinary dish to the table.

  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Cost: Medium
  • Preparation time: 40 Minutes
  • Portions: 2
  • Cooking methods: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: Regional Italian
  • Region: Sicily
  • Seasonality: Summer, Spring, Summer and Autumn
463.37 Kcal
calories per serving
Info Close
  • Energy 463.37 (Kcal)
  • Carbohydrates 77.58 (g) of which sugars 7.99 (g)
  • Proteins 15.88 (g)
  • Fat 11.86 (g) of which saturated 1.83 (g)of which unsaturated 1.00 (g)
  • Fibers 5.71 (g)
  • Sodium 1,959.14 (mg)

Indicative values for a portion of 280 g processed in an automated way starting from the nutritional information available on the CREA* and FoodData Central** databases. It is not food and / or nutritional advice.

* CREATES Food and Nutrition Research Center: https://www.crea.gov.it/alimenti-e-nutrizione https://www.alimentinutrizione.it ** U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. FoodData Central, 2019. https://fdc.nal.usda.gov

Ingredients needed to prepare Macaroni alla Norma

  • 7 oz macaroni (Sicilian)
  • 5 oz tomato sauce
  • 6 oz eggplant (fried)
  • 2 tbsp Sicilian pecorino
  • 6 leaves basil
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • to taste salt

Necessary tools to prepare Macaroni alla Norma

  • Pot
  • Colander
  • Small Pot
  • Grater

Steps

  • Prepare a simple tomato sauce with garlic and extra virgin olive oil, salt, and basil, put everything together in a small pot, and cook for 15 minutes. Meanwhile, peel the eggplant, cut it into cubes and fry it. Bring the water to a boil in a pot and cook the Sicilian macaroni for 10 minutes, then while still al dente, toss it for a minute with the tomato sauce and fried eggplant. Grate a generous portion of Sicilian pecorino or, if you prefer, aged salted ricotta on top.

  • Here are the Macaroni alla Norma ready.

Author image

in cucina con pina

My name is Pina, and my passion is food and cooking in general. On the blog, I focus on regional dishes like those from my birthplace, Sicily. I also feature dishes from Lazio, the region that has hosted me for over 40 years, but in general, I cover all Italian regions. Traveling and exploring is my second passion, so I couldn't leave out dishes from around the "World" on my blog. My blog is divided into simple and essential sections like appetizers, first courses, main courses, side dishes, bread and leavened products, jams and preserves, wines and wineries, and of course, travels. Desserts are included, and finally, there is a dedicated corner for gluten-free options. Easy recipes, explained step by step and always updated.

Read the Blog