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Lasagne alla Norma

17/11/2023

Lasagne alla Norma is a wonderful Italian twist on a classic dish, blending traditional lasagna with the flavors and key ingredients of Pasta alla Norma, a culinary tribute to Sicily.

Here are the main ingredients you’ll need to prepare Lasagne alla Norma:

Ingredients

  • Egg lasagne (fresh or dry to be preheated according to the package instructions)
  • Eggplants (about 2 large)
  • Peeled tomatoes or tomato puree (about 400 g)
  • Salted ricotta (to grate on top)
  • Fresh basil
  • Garlic (1-2 cloves)
  • Extra virgin olive oil
  • Salt and pepper
  • Oil for frying the eggplants
  • (Optional) Buffalo mozzarella or fiordilatte

Preparation

  1. Start by washing and slicing the eggplants, then lay them on a surface with coarse salt for about an hour to lose their bitterness. After letting them rest, rinse them off and dry them thoroughly.

  2. Fry the eggplants in plenty of hot oil until they are golden brown and then let them drain and cool on paper towels.

  3. While the eggplants are cooling down, lightly fry the garlic in extra virgin olive oil, then add the tomato puree, salt, pepper, and let it cook for about 15-20 minutes. At the end of cooking, tear the basil leaves and add them to the sauce.

  4. Prepare a lasagne baking dish by greasing the bottom with a drizzle of oil and a light layer of sauce. Place the first layer of pasta, then cover with more sauce, add slices of eggplant, and sprinkle with grated salted ricotta.

  5. Repeat the layers until all ingredients are used up, ending with sauce and a generous sprinkling of salted ricotta (and diced mozzarella if you decide to use it).

  6. Bake in a preheated oven at 180 °C (356 °F) for about 30-40 minutes, or until the surface of the lasagna is gratinated and golden to your liking.

  7. Allow the lasagna to rest for about 10 minutes before serving. This will allow the various layers to “settle,” making it easier to slice and distribute the portions.

Curiosity

The name “alla Norma” comes from the opera by the composer from Catania, Vincenzo Bellini, as the dish originated in Sicily. The original dish, Pasta alla Norma, typically uses short pasta like penne, but in the lasagna version, it is possible to enjoy the same flavors in a different and equally delicious form. The salted ricotta, which is another typical ingredient of Sicilian cuisine, helps to give the dish its characteristic savory flavor.