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Penne Siciliano, a Italian recipe
Italian

Penne Siciliano

A classic Sicilian pasta dish featuring penne, eggplant, tomato sauce, and cheese.

By CuocoMitra · Published · Updated 3 August 2026

Vegetarianpastavegetarianitaliansicilian
Start freeSave this recipe
Total time
Prep
Cook
Serves
4
Per serving
526kcal
Difficulty
easy

Penne Siciliano is a easy Italian recipe that serves 4 and takes 45 minutes (15 minutes prep, 30 minutes cooking). It uses 9 ingredients across 4 steps. Each serving provides about 525.95 calories.

Ingredients

9 ingredients for 4 servings. Open any ingredient for its nutrition detail.

  • Enriched Dry PastaUse good quality penne for best results.320 g

    Pasta, dry, enriched

    Cereal Grains and Pastasr_legacy

    In this recipe: 320 g, Use good quality penne for best results.

    Per 100 g

    Calories371 kcal
    Protein13g
    Carbs74.7g
    Fat1.51g
    Fiber3.2g

    Common portions

    oz 2 undetermined57 g
    cup shells 1 undetermined64 g
    cup farfalle 1 undetermined81 g
    cup lasagna 1 undetermined90 g
    Main carbohydrateFillerTexture enhancerNeutralStarchyChewy
  • Raw EggplantCut into 1cm cubes.500 g

    Eggplant, raw

    Vegetables and Vegetable Productssr_legacy

    In this recipe: 500 g, Cut into 1cm cubes.

    Per 100 g

    Calories25 kcal
    Protein0.98g
    Carbs5.88g
    Fat0.18g
    Fiber3g

    Common portions

    cup, cubes 1 undetermined82 g
    eggplant, peeled (yield from 1-1/4 lb) 1 undetermined458 g
    eggplant, unpeeled (approx 1-1/4 lb) 1 undetermined548 g
    Main vegetableTexture builderAbsorbentEarthyMildBitter
  • Canned Tomato SauceUse a smooth tomato sauce or passata.700 ml

    Tomato products, canned, sauce

    Vegetables and Vegetable Productssr_legacy

    In this recipe: 700 ml, Use a smooth tomato sauce or passata.

    Per 100 g

    Calories24 kcal
    Protein1.2g
    Carbs5.31g
    Fat0.3g
    Fiber1.5g

    Common portions

    cup 1 undetermined245 g
    Base sauceAcidUmami builderSweetSourUmami
  • CheeseGrated Pecorino Romano or Parmesan cheese.100 g

    Cheese

    Milk and milk productsFermented milk products

    In this recipe: 100 g, Grated Pecorino Romano or Parmesan cheese.

    Per 100 g

    Calories356 kcal
    Protein24.9g
    Carbs2.22g
    Fat27.4g
    Fiber0g

    Common portions

    oz 1 undetermined28.35 g
    package (7 oz) 1 undetermined198 g
    Flavor enhancerFat sourceMain proteinSavoryUmamiTangy
  • Olive OilExtra virgin olive oil.30 ml

    Oil, olive, salad or cooking

    Fats and Oilssr_legacy

    In this recipe: 30 ml, Extra virgin olive oil.

    Per 100 g

    Calories884 kcal
    Protein0g
    Carbs0g
    Fat100g
    Fiber0g

    Common portions

    tsp 1 undetermined4.5 g
    tablespoon 1 undetermined13.5 g
    cup 1 undetermined216 g
    Fat sourceCooking mediumFlavor enhancerFruityMildSilky
  • Raw GarlicMinced.2 cloves

    Garlic, raw

    Vegetables and Vegetable Productssr_legacy

    In this recipe: 2 cloves, Minced.

    Per 100 g

    Calories149 kcal
    Protein6.36g
    Carbs33.1g
    Fat0.5g
    Fiber2.1g

    Common portions

    tsp 1 undetermined2.8 g
    clove 1 undetermined3 g
    cloves 3 undetermined9 g
    cup 1 undetermined136 g
    AromaticFlavor enhancerSpicePungentSpicyEarthy
  • Fresh BasilChopped.15 g

    Basil, fresh

    Herbs & Spicessr_legacy

    In this recipe: 15 g, Chopped.

    Per 100 g

    Calories23 kcal
    Protein3.15g
    Carbs2.65g
    Fat0.64g
    Fiber1.6g

    Common portions

    leaves 5 undetermined2.5 g
    tbsp, chopped 2 undetermined5.3 g
    cup leaves, whole 0.25 undetermined6 g
    AromaticGarnishFlavor enhancerAromaticSweetPeppery
  • Plain SaltTo taste.2 g

    PLAIN SALT

    Seasoning Mixes, Salts, Marinades & Tenderizerssr_legacy

    In this recipe: 2 g, To taste.

    Per 100 g

    Calories0 kcal
    Protein0g
    Carbs0g
    Fat0g
    Fiber—

    Common portions

    1 g1.5 g
    Flavor enhancerSeasoningSaltyGrittyCrystalline
  • Black PepperFreshly ground, to taste.1 g

    Spices, pepper, black

    Herbs & Spicessr_legacy

    In this recipe: 1 g, Freshly ground, to taste.

    Per 100 g

    Calories251 kcal
    Protein10.4g
    Carbs64g
    Fat3.26g
    Fiber25.3g

    Common portions

    dash 1 undetermined0.1 g
    tsp, ground 1 undetermined2.3 g
    tsp, whole 1 undetermined2.9 g
    tbsp, ground 1 undetermined6.9 g
    SeasoningFlavor enhancerAromaticSpicyPungentEarthy

What you’ll need

3 tools across 4 steps.

  • pan (optional, for hot water)Essentialsteps 1, 2, 4
  • pot (optional for boiling)Essentialstep 3
  • colanderEssentialstep 3

Method

  1. 1

    Prepare the Eggplant

    Heat the olive oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the cubed eggplant and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden brown and softened, about 10-12 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

    For a richer flavor, you can lightly salt the eggplant and let it sit for 30 minutes to draw out excess moisture before cooking.

    Timer: 12 minpan (optional, for hot water)
  2. 2

    Add Tomato Sauce

    Pour in the tomato sauce and bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and cook for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, to allow the flavors to meld.

    If the sauce becomes too thick, add a splash of water to thin it out.

    Simmer: 15 minpan (optional, for hot water)
  3. 3

    Cook the Pasta

    While the sauce is simmering, cook the penne pasta according to package directions until al dente. Reserve about 1/2 cup of pasta water before draining.

    Cooking the pasta al dente ensures it holds its shape and texture when combined with the sauce.

    Timer: 8 minpot (optional for boiling)colander
  4. 4

    Combine and Serve

    Add the drained penne pasta to the pan with the eggplant and tomato sauce. Toss to coat. If the sauce is too thick, add a little of the reserved pasta water until it reaches your desired consistency. Stir in half of the fresh basil and the cheese. Serve immediately, garnished with the remaining fresh basil and cheese.

    Serve immediately for the best flavor and texture. A sprinkle of red pepper flakes can add a touch of heat.

    Timer: 5 minpan (optional, for hot water)

Nutrition

Per serving, across 4 servings.

Nutrition for Penne Siciliano, per serving and for the whole recipe
NutrientPer servingWhole recipe
Calories526 kcal2103.8 kcal
Protein20.3 g81.2 g
Carbohydrates78.2 g312.9 g
Fat15.8 g63 g
Fibre9.2 g37 g
Sodium1284.3 mg5137.1 mg

Computed from the matched ingredient data rather than entered by hand, with 100% of ingredients matched. Treat it as a close estimate, not a clinical figure.

How it tastes

SavoryUmamiEarthyTangySaltyHerbaceousCreamy
Salty
3 out of 5
Sweet
2 out of 5
Sour
2 out of 5
Bitter
1 out of 5
Umami
4 out of 5
Herbal
3 out of 5
Rich
3 out of 5

Texture

TenderSoftCreamy

Mood

Comfort foodFamily styleDate night

Good for

LunchDinner

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Questions about this recipe

How long does Penne Siciliano take to make?
About 45 minutes from start to finish. That is 15 minutes of preparation and 30 minutes of cooking.
How many calories are in Penne Siciliano?
Roughly 525.95 calories per serving, based on 4 servings. Each serving also has 20.3g protein, 78.22g carbohydrates, 15.76g fat. These figures are computed from the matched ingredient data rather than entered by hand.
Is Penne Siciliano vegetarian or vegan?
It is vegetarian, but not vegan, so it contains at least one animal-derived ingredient such as dairy or egg.
What equipment do I need for Penne Siciliano?
pan (optional, for hot water), pot (optional for boiling), colander. Every tool the recipe calls for is listed above with the steps that use it.

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