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Italian Veganized Pasta alla Norma1

Italian Veganized Pasta alla Norma

A classic Sicilian pasta dish made fully vegan, featuring roasted eggplant and a rich tomato sauce.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 19 minutes
Total Time 29 minutes
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Italian, Vegan
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Pasta:
  • 🍝 12 oz 340g rigatoni, penne, or spaghetti
  • 🧂 Salt for pasta water
For the Eggplant:
  • 🍆 1 large eggplant cubed
  • 🫒 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 🧂 Salt and pepper to taste
For the Tomato Sauce:
  • 🫒 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 🧄 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 🥫 1 can 14 oz crushed tomatoes
  • 🥄 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 🌿 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes optional
  • 🧂 Salt and black pepper to taste
For Serving:
  • 🌿 Fresh basil leaves
  • 🧀 1/4 cup vegan parmesan or nutritional yeast

Equipment

  • Large pot for boiling pasta
  • Large skillet or saucepan
  • Baking sheet (if roasting eggplant)
  • Wooden spoon

Method
 

Cook the Pasta:
  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
  2. Cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente.
  3. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water before draining.
Roast the Eggplant: (Option: Pan-fry instead)
  1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
  2. Toss eggplant cubes with olive oil, salt, and pepper.
  3. Spread on a baking sheet and roast for 15-20 minutes until golden and tender.
Make the Tomato Sauce:
  1. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
  2. Sauté garlic for 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
  3. Add crushed tomatoes, oregano, red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper.
  4. Simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Combine Everything:
  1. Add the roasted eggplant to the tomato sauce.
  2. Stir in the cooked pasta and mix well, adding reserved pasta water if needed for consistency.
Serve:
  1. Divide pasta into bowls.
  2. Garnish with fresh basil and vegan parmesan.
  3. Serve warm and enjoy!

Notes

  • 🍆 No oven? Pan-fry the eggplant in a skillet with olive oil instead.
  • 🍝 Gluten-free option: Use gluten-free pasta.
  • 🌶️ More heat? Add extra red pepper flakes.
  • 🥫 Richer sauce? Add a splash of red wine while simmering the tomatoes.