Pasta alla Norma (Italian: [ˈ pasta alla ˈ n ɔ rma], likewise called pasta con le melanzane (lit. & thinsp;'pasta with eggplant'), is a pasta recipe made from eggplant. It is common of Sicilian cuisine, from Catania particularly. It is made from penne or other pasta with tomato sauce, covered with pieces of fried eggplant and served with grated ricotta salata cheese and frequently basil. It was named in honor of a native of Catania, Vincenzo Bellini, the composer of the opera Norma. It is said that the Italian writer Nino Martoglio exclaimed "This is an actual 'Norma'!", meaning a work of art, when he tasted the meal, although the name is not proven till decades after his death. Pasta alla Norma was called "recipe of the year" by the Little Bit Tourist Honor in 2018.
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