Pasta alla Norma is a traditional Sicilian dish, typical of the Catania region. It is said to be named after the Catania native Vincenzo Bellini, composer of the opera Norma. The beauty of pasta alla Norma is in its simplicity, consisting only of tossed sliced eggplant and pasta (usually spaghetti) served with a rich tomato sauce and topped with grated ricotta salata cheese.