Pasta can be made in a variety of ways, but sometimes the simplest pasta dishes are the most satisfying. Pasta Alla Siciliana is one such example, highlighting fresh vegetables, quality noodles, and a simple sauce.
This tasty dish usually features roasted eggplant in a rich tomato sauce, but there are small variations that can be made without straying too far from tradition.
Pasta Alla Siciliana is a lovely weeknight meal that can be put together quickly. Continue reading to learn about our favorite Pasta Alla Siciliana recipes.
1. Pasta Alla Siciliana Recipe
This is a simple preparation, with the usual suspects like roasted eggplants and a plum tomato sauce. It also uses cherry tomatoes, which provide nice bursts of sweetness throughout the dish.
The rich sauce blends nicely with the roasted eggplants and chewy pasta for a satisfying bite, and the Pecorino Romano cheese adds a delightfully sharp flavor.
This recipe calls for penne, but other types of pasta such as rigatoni, ziti, or cavatappi also work well. We prefer shorter noodles to pair with smaller pieces of eggplant.
If you want something heartier, you could also include Italian sausage, it is always a welcome addition to a red sauce pasta dish.
Get the full recipe and directions here.
2. Whole Wheat Eggplant Pasta with No Sauce Recipe
Look no further for an easy, healthy alternative to a traditional Pasta Alla Siciliana. this sauceless dish uses whole wheat noodles and draws your attention to the vegetables.
A generous portion of cherry tomatoes provides sweetness, and kalamata and black olives give the dish a nice briny contrast. Toss them in olive oil and salt before roasting the veggies in this variation of Pasta Alla Siciliana.
You’ll get a lot more satisfaction out of this dish if you make your own pasta (the recipe is included in the link below), but you can use any quality dried pasta if you are strapped for time.
Get the full recipe and directions here.
3. Sun-dried Tomato Spaghetti Alla Siciliana
If you aren’t a fan of eggplants, you can still enjoy a lovely plate of Pasta Alla Siciliana! This version of Pasta Alla Siciliana calls for sun-dried tomatoes, giving it a sweet and tart flavor profile and a unique texture.
All you need is five ingredients to make the sauce, which can be ready in less than 15 minutes! If you’re looking for a healthy but hearty weeknight meal, this is one of our favorite options.
Since the recipe is so simple, you can swap out the sun-dried tomatoes for a roasted veggie of your choice, but we really enjoy the balance of flavors in this dish.
Get the full recipe and directions from Vikalinka.
4. Authentic Italian Pasta Alla Siciliana
Though you may think of cheesy, saucy noodles as an “Americanized” version of Italian cuisine, there are plenty of regions where these things are authentic.
This traditional version of Pasta Alla Siciliana uses small casarecce noodles, the perfect vehicle for absorbing sauces and cheeses. The recipe author shares a simple sauce consisting of cherry tomatoes and eggplants.
Fresh basil is a necessity here, as the sweetness compliments the savory sauce and melty mozzarella cheese. The dish can be made mild or spicy depending on how many crushed red pepper flakes you add to it.
Get the full recipe and directions from Love, Kitchen, and Mandolin.
5. Gnocchi Alla Siciliana
Gnocchi may not be the most popular choice for Pasta Alla Siciliana, but we love how the chewy, doughy dumplings soak up the spicy, savory sauce.
This recipe uses fresh mozzarella which helps pull everything together. The resulting pasta dish manages to remain relatively light while satisfying your hunger.
If you want to switch it up, you could use Parmesan or Pecorino in place of the mozzarella, or you could leave out the cheese entirely and top it with walnuts.
Get the full recipe and directions from Mutti Parma.
The beauty of Pasta Alla Siciliana lies in its simplicity, so it is best to stick to the recipe as much as possible. This is a quick and easy meal that could easily become a staple in your household.
Be sure to tell us about your favorite version of Pasta Alla Siciliana in the comments!
If you like this post, we think you’ll really like our Aubergine Pasta Bake Recipe post.
