Maccheroncini: Aubergine and Tomato

One of Sicily’s most famous dishes, this is named after Bellini’s Norma. There is a (likely apocryphal) story that a chef, enraptured after hearing a rousing performance of the opera, rushed back to his kitchen and immediately concocted this dish in its honour. The recipe pre-dates the work, however, and it is likely that the name of the dish was changed after some of Bellini’s compatriots started using the term una vera Norma to extol the merits of a remarkable product or dee