Pasta alla Norma (Senza Aglio)

Penne with fried aubergine, tomato & ricotta salata

34 min2 servingsItalian
Pasta alla Norma (Senza Aglio) — Italian recipe, finished and plated

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Ingredients

  • 64 g Penne
  • 1½ Eggplant
  • 450 g Cherry tomatoes
  • 45 ml Garlic-infused olive oil
  • 1 tbsp Salt
  • 1 bunch Basil (optional)
  • 40 g Ricotta salata (optional)
  • ½ tsp Black pepper (optional)

Method

  1. Cube the aubergine and toss with a spoonful of the salt.
  2. Let the salted aubergine weep in a colander for 15 minutes, then pat it dry.
  3. While the aubergine weeps, bring a pot of water to a boil.
  4. While the aubergine weeps, halve the cherry tomatoes and tear the basil.
  5. Fry the aubergine in the garlic-infused oil over medium-high heat until deep golden, about 7 minutes, then lift out.
  6. In the same pan, add the tomatoes and cook, crushing lightly, until they collapse into a rough sauce, about 6 minutes.
  7. While the sauce simmers, drop the penne into the boiling water and cook one minute shy of al dente.
  8. Fold the fried aubergine back into the sauce.
  9. Reserve a mugful of pasta water, then drain.
  10. Toss the pasta into the pan with a splash of pasta water. Toss off heat until glossy.
  11. Finish with the basil and crumbled ricotta salata.

About Pasta alla Norma (Senza Aglio)

Pasta alla Norma (Senza Aglio) is an Italian lunch or dinner that comes together in about 34 minutes and serves 2.

Pasta alla Norma (Senza Aglio): frequently asked questions

Is Pasta alla Norma (Senza Aglio) gluten-free?

As written, no — it contains Penne. You'd need a certified gluten-free swap for that ingredient to make it gluten-free.

Is Pasta alla Norma (Senza Aglio) dairy-free?

Not as written — it uses Ricotta salata. Swapping it for a plant-based alternative makes it dairy-free.

How long does Pasta alla Norma (Senza Aglio) take to make?

About 34 minutes start to finish, but only around 24 of those are hands-on — the rest is largely unattended cooking time you can step away from. In the Homecooked app the timers and parallel steps are sequenced for you so the hands-on part feels even shorter.

Do I need every ingredient to make Pasta alla Norma (Senza Aglio)?

The core ingredients are essential, but you can leave out basil, ricotta salata, black pepper — they're optional and mainly there for extra flavor or finish.

How many servings does Pasta alla Norma (Senza Aglio) make?

This recipe makes 2 servings. In the app you can scale it up or down and the ingredient amounts adjust automatically.