Pasta Alla Siciliana Recipes

PASTA ALLA SICILIANA

Steps:

• Toss cubed eggplant with a 1/4 cup olive oil, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, and a 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper. Spread eggplant out, without crowding, on a baking sheet (use 2 if necessary) and bake in the middle of oven for 25 minutes at 400f.
• Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water (2 tablespoons kosher salt per gallon of water) to boil.
• In a very large pan saute the onions in a 1/4 cup of olive over medium-low heat until translucent (about 5 minutes). Add in the garlic and saute for 2-3 minutes more until lightly golden, then add in the red pepper flakes and cook for 30 more seconds.
• Add in the crushed plum tomatoes and bring the sauce to a simmer. While the sauce is simmering cook the pasta until al dente.
• Season the sauce with a bit of kosher salt and taste test it. If more salt or pepper is needed, add it now. Add in the roasted eggplant, basil, mint, and the al dente pasta to the sauce. Cook for 1 minute more while stirring it all together. If the pasta is too dry add a couple of ounces of pasta water and mix.
• Turn off the heat and add in the cubed mozzarella and grated Pecorino Romano cheese. Serve immediately. Enjoy!

PASTA ALLA NORMA

Steps:

• Combine eggplant and 2 tablespoons salt in a large bowl with water to cover. Place a plate on top of the eggplant to weigh it down and keep it covered in water for about 30 minutes. Drain and rinse eggplant in cool water. Pat dry and cut into cubes.
• Combine tomato puree, 1 teaspoon rock salt, garlic, and basil in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until sauce flavors combine, 5 to 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Saute eggplant until golden brown, 5 to 10 minutes. Drain on paper towels.
• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil; add penne and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 11 minutes. Drain and toss with the tomato-basil sauce; divide into 4 serving bowls. Top with eggplant. Sprinkle 1/4 the ricotta and 1/4 the diced pepper over each bowl.

SICILIAN SPAGHETTI ALLA NORMA

Steps:

• Chop the aubergines into rough 2cm chunks. Place into a colander in the sink, sprinkle with sea salt to draw out the moisture, then set aside for around 20 minutes.
• Peel and finely slice the garlic, then pick the basil leaves and finely slice the stalks.
• Rinse the aubergine and pat dry with kitchen paper, then place into a large bowl with the oregano, chilli flakes, a splash of olive oil and a pinch of sea salt and black pepper. Toss together well.
• Drizzle a splash of olive oil into a large frying pan over a medium heat. Once hot, add the aubergines in a single layer, and fry for 5 to 8 minutes, or until softened and golden, stirring occasionally - you may need to do this in batches.
• Add another splash of olive oil, followed by the garlic, capers and basil stalks, then cook for a further 2 minutes, or until golden.
• Stir in the vinegar and the tomatoes, breaking them up with the back of a spoon. Reduce the heat to low, and simmer gently for 15 to 20 minutes, or until thick and glossy.
• Cook the spaghetti in a pan of boiling salted water for 8 minutes or until al dente, which means that it should be soft enough to eat, but still have a bit of bite and firmness to it.
• Drain the spaghetti, reserving a cupful of the cooking water, then add a good splash of the reserved water to the aubergine sauce.
• Finely grate in half the cheese and tear in most of the reserved basil leaves. Add a lug of extra virgin olive oil, then season to taste.
• Add the spaghetti to the sauce and toss well, adding an extra splash of the reserved cooking water to loosen, if needed.
• Divide between bowls, grate over the remaining cheese and finish with the remaining basil scattered on top.

PESTO ALLA SICILIANA

Steps:

• Combine Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, olive oil, basil leaves, pine nuts, and garlic in a mortar. Crush with a pestle until pesto is finely ground, but not too smooth.
• Mix pesto, cherry tomatoes, and ricotta cheese together in a bowl. Season with salt and pepper.

LAURA VITALE- PASTA ALLA SICILIANA

Steps:

• Preheat your oven to 400 degrees, line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and set aside.
• Fill a large pot with water, sprinkle in a good amount of salt and bring to a boil.
• Add the cubed eggplant to the baking sheet and drizzle over some olive oil, season with salt and pepper and toss. Bake for about 20 minutes or so.
• In a non stick pan add the 2 tbsp of olive oil and onions, cook over medium heat for about 5 to 7 minutes or until the onions start to cook down and develop some color. Add the garlic and cook for 1 more minute.
• Add the crushed tomatoes and season with salt and pepper, cook for about 20 minutes or until the sauce thickens.
• Add the roasted eggplant and cook for 10 more minutes. This is the point where you add the pasta to the salted boiling water and cook according to package instructions.
• Drain the pasta and remove the sauce from the heat. Adjust the seasoning and add the pasta to the sauce along with the parmigiano and basil. Toss until the pasta is coated in the sauce then add the cubed mozzarella and toss around some more until the mozzarella slowly starts to melt.
• Serve right away!

PASTA AL FORNO (BAKED PASTA THE ITALIAN WAY)

Steps:

• Chop the carrot, onion, garlic and celery finely.
• Fry the vegetables in olive oil until they are softening. Be careful not to allow them to burn!
• Add the minced meat and cook until browned.
• Then add the tomato concentrate and stir well
• Add the glass of wine and stir well again
• When the wine has evaporated pour in the tomato pulp and mix it in well with the meat.
• Add the basil leaves and salt and pepper as required.
• Cover the sauce and allow to simmer on a low heat for at least an hour, stirring occasionally so it doesn't stick. If it gets too thick add some water.
• 15 minutes before the sauce is ready add the peas.
• Put salted water on to boil for the pasta. Cook the pasta 2-3 minutes less than instructed on the packet. Strain and add the pasta to the meat sauce when it is ready.
• Mix the pasta and sauce well and allow to cool.
• Put a layer of pasta with sauce on the bottom of an oven dish.
• Make another layer with thick pieces of mozzarella.
• Add another layer of pasta with meat sauce and again some mozzarella
• Finish with a layer of pasta.
• Sprinkle with parmesan and bake in a pre-heated oven 180-200° until the top layer starts to crisp (30-40 mins)

PASTA ALLA SICILIANA

Steps:

• Eggplant - slice and fry in oil and set aside. (Soak first in water for 30 minutes.) Cook lasagnette and set aside. Slice mozzarella and set aside. Cook tomato paste in pan with chopped onion, parsley, celery, basil, and set aside. Slice 2 hard-boiled eggs and set aside. Put some tomato paste in bottom of round pan. Layer with cooked noodles, egg slices, mozzarella, eggplant, and repeat like lasagna. Also add grated cheese if you want. Bake for about 45 minutes in oven with low temperature - delicious!