Pasta alla Norma

The classic Catane dish: spaghetti with tomato sauce and onion, topped with fried eggplant, basil, and grated salted ricotta.

Recipe from Burgundo, Tooby, Olandobot and 2 other contributors, adapted by Recette de cuisine · October 4, 2026 · updated on October 13, 2026

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Norma is a Sicilian specialty that is similar to lasagna, but uses pasta sheets instead of the traditional lasagna noodles. Here’s how to prepare this delicious and simple recipe.

Ingredients and directions

Prep time20 min
Cook time35 min
Resting10 min
Total1 hr 5 min
DifficultyEasy
CostModerate
Calories625 kcal/serving
Cooking methodFrying, frying pan
Estimated cost$11.57 $2.89 / serving Estimated price; varies by store. Converted from euros at the ECB rate of October 15, 2026.

Vegetarian

Ingredients

4 people

500 g of spaghetti$1.31
500 g of eggplant$2.92
80 g of salted ricotta (or baked ricotta)$0.46
450 g of tomatoes$5.80
1 onion$0.21
50 g of extra virgin olive oil$0.64
Basil$0.20
salt and pepper$0.03

Prices from US supermarkets for 6 of 8 ingredients; Belgian prices for the rest.

Directions

Slice the eggplants into half-centimeter thick slices (or dice them, as is done in some parts of Sicily), season them with salt, and let them drain.
Fry them in olive oil on both sides, and drain them on paper towels.
Dice the tomatoes and cook them in the frying pan with the finely chopped onion in the remaining oil.
Cook the pasta separately and then mix it with the tomato sauce.
Serve the eggplant over a bed of fresh basil and grated, salted ricotta cheese. ≈ 2 min

The bill

Pasta alla Norma

500 g of spaghetti$1.31
500 g of eggplant$2.92
80 g of salted ricotta (or baked ricotta)$0.46
450 g of tomatoes$5.80
1 onion$0.21
50 g of extra virgin olive oil$0.64
Basil$0.20
salt and pepper$0.03

Total$11.57

that's $2.89 per person

Estimated price; varies by store.

Equipment

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Nutrition per serving

Calories	625 kcal
Fat	17 g
Saturated fat	3.9 g
Carbohydrates	100.5 g
Sugars	11.9 g
Fiber	8.9 g
Protein	18.7 g
Salt	0.1 g

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