In honor of Stanley Tucci’s television travel series Searching for Italy, we’ve created four pasta dishes for TABLE readers. This week we bring you Stanley Tucci Inspired Pasta alla Norma. This dish incorporates lightly fried eggplant, which adds a wonderful texture to the rigatoni pasta dressed in a very simple red sauce. We recommend a Cerasuolo di Vittoria, a dry Sicilian red, or a fruit-forward Etna Rosso to accompany this Stanley Tucci Inspired Pasta alla Norma recipe.
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Stanley Tucci Inspired Pasta alla Norma
Description
Much like your usual rigatoni with tomato sauce, but with the luscious addition of fried eggplant.
Ingredients
- 1 large eggplant
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1 can diced tomatoes
- 1 small bunch basil, chopped
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- ½ cup grated ricotta salata
- 1 lb dry rigatoni pasta
- ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- Salt and pepper
- Grated parmesan for serving
Instructions
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- Prepare eggplant by washing and slicing into cubes. Salt eggplant and place in a bowl. Let sit at room temperature for two hours. Rinse away the salt. Pat dry. Add to pan with olive oil. Saute until golden brown. Remove from pan. Set aside.
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- In the same pan, add olive oil, garlic, tomato, and oregano. Add half of the basil once the sauce thickens over medium heat.
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- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook penne al dente.
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- Mix eggplant pieces into sauce. Simmer over low heat. Stir in ricotta and remaining basil. Add penne from its boiling water. Add a touch of salted water. Mix gently. Serve warm. Add grated parmesan for serving and enjoy your Stanley Tucci Inspired Pasta alla Norma.
Check Out Our Other Stanley Tucci Inspired Recipes:
Spaghetti alla Nerano
Bucatini all’Amatriciana
Penne all’ Arrabbiata
Stanley Tucci’s Martini
Recipe and Story by Gabe Gomez
Prop Styling by Keith Recker
Food Styling by Veda Sankaran
Photography by Dave Bryce
Fabric by @foundandforagedfibres
Wine Pairing by Adam Knoerzer
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