Pasta alla Norma con Ricotta Salata Catanese
Sicily — Catania
Catania's most beloved pasta — named for Bellini's opera Norma (allegedly exclaimed 'this is a Norma!' by a Catanian upon tasting it, meaning it was a masterpiece). Rigatoni or spaghetti with a quick tomato sauce, deep-fried aubergine cubes, and abundant grated ricotta salata. The ricotta salata (pressed, salted, aged ricotta — not fresh) is the defining ingredient. It grates into dry, crumbling shards that melt partially over the hot pasta and partially remain as textural contrast. Without ricotta salata, there is no pasta alla Norma.