Pasta alla Norma

This Sicilian classic is traditionally made with tomato sauce, eggplants, ricotta salata cheese, and fresh basil. The dish is said to be named in honor of La Norma, the famous opera composed by Vincenzo Bellini in 1831. According to legend, while he was working on the opera, Bellini frequented a local restaurant in Catania, where he would always order the same pasta dish.

As an homage to the Catania-born composer, the restaurant’s owner decided to name the dish after his opera, suggesting the greatness of pasta alla Norma by comparing it to Bellini’s masterpiece.