PASTA AUA NORMA Sicilian-style pasta This recipe comes from Catania and is named after Bellini's masterpiece, the opera Norma.
3 medium eggplants coarse sea salt 4 oz Ricotta salata or semi-hard Pecorino cheese 1 1/2 lb fresh tomatoes, skinned and chopped 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil 1 lb spaghetti 1 cup oil, for frying 6 fresh basil leaves, torn salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste Cut the eggplants into 1/4-inch thick slices. Sprinkle with the coarse sea salt and place on a slanted chopping board. Leave for at least 1 hour, then rinse thoroughly and dry on paper towels .. Use a fork to break the Ricotta into fairly small, crumbly pieces (or chop the Pecorino into small pieces with a knife) .. In a large skillet, saute the garlic in the oil until soft. Add the tomatoes and simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally .. Sieve the thick tomato sauce and return to the skillet. Keep warm over very low heat. . Heat the frying oil to very hot in another skillet. Fry the slices of eggplant in batches until tender. Drain on paper towels .. Cook the spaghetti in a large pot of salted, boiling water until at dente. Drain well and place in a heated serving dish .. Add the tomato sauce and basil and half the cheese .. Toss well and place in four individual serving dishes .. Chop the eggplant into large squares. Top each portion with a quarter of the eggplant and the remaining Ricotta or Pecorino. Serves: 4 . Prep: 15 min. + 1 br to degorge the eggplarus Cooking: 35 min. . Level: 2 Reader's Digest The Encyclopedia of Italian Cooking ------------------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PASTA-RECIPE/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PASTA-RECIPE/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/