This simple and delicious Sicilian dish, a summer staple, is named after the Island's most celebrated composer, Vincenzo Bellini. Scarlatti was also Sicilian, BTW. At any rate, this was Bellini's favorite dish so the people from his place of birth, Catania, named it after Bellini's most famous opera Norma . In my humble opinion it's the best Italian opera. He also wrote I puritani . La sunnambula and Il pirata among others. All bel canto masterpieces. This dish can be used with any pasta from spaghetti to rigatonis. I used mafaldine one of my favorite cuts. The ingredients are, an eggplant, fresh plain tomato sauce, sliced ricotta salata , one clove of garlic, a small onion, some fresh basil and the usual spices along with a good pecorino cheese.. I add some breadcrumbs but this is optional. For a lighter taste ricotta can be substituted but the one sold stateside is pathetically insipid First get a fresh eggplant. Slice about one half and dice the other half in...