Quick Pasta alla Norma (shortcut version, 20 minutes)
For this delicious Pasta alla Norma recipe you’ll only need a few basic ingredients. The diced eggplant is sautéed in a pan (no frying in oil, no oven needed), which couldn’t be easier. Pasta alla Norma is hearty, rustic but at the same time fancy and unbelievably satisfying.
30leaves(roughly) fresh basil, plus more for serving
¼teaspoonsalt, more if needed
½teaspoonfreshly ground black pepper
3tablespoonsgrated parmesan (15 g), plus more for serving(see notes for vegan)
Instructions
Cut the eggplant into 1 inch (2.5 cm) cubes.
Peel and finely chop the onion. Peel and lightly crush the garlic (very gently!) with the flat side of a knife or with the bottom of a glass. The garlic should remain in one piece.
Boil rigatoni in salted water until al dente, about 13 minutes. Drain, reserving 1 cup of the pasta cooking water. While the pasta cooks, make the sauce.
Heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium-high heat in a skillet or pan. Add eggplant and sprinkle ¼ teaspoon salt over the cubes. Sauté for 5 minutes until the eggplant is light golden. Add chopped onion and crushed garlic and sauté for 3 minutes, stirring often. Add 1 tablespoon oil if needed.
Pour in canned, diced tomatoes. Add ¼ cup water to the empty can and then add this water to the sauce. Add fresh basil and pepper.
Simmer the sauce for 5-10 minutes or longer until the pasta is ready. Any time the sauce tends to get too dry, add some of the pasta cooking water (kept previously, or simply scoop it out of the pasta pot with a ladle or measuring cup).
Stir in parmesan and make sure the texture of the sauce is creamy (add more cooking water, or cook a few more minutes to reduce if needed). Remove garlic if you can find it. Taste and adjust salt.
Toss the drained pasta with the sauce. Finish off with fresh basil and grated parmesan. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
Pasta: My top pick are rigatoni, which are a bit thicker and sturdier than other types of pasta. They have a slightly chewy texture and tend to soak up more sauce. Fusilli and penne are good choices too.Vegan: To make this Pasta alla Norma vegan omit the cheese or use vegan parmesan.