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Pasta alla Norcina

Author:

Vincenzo Prosperi

Updated:

21st Apr, 2025

10 Comments

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How to Make  Pasta Alla Norcina

This delectable pasta dish is a must-try for foodies looking to indulge in rich and flavourful Italian cuisine. If you’re planning on making this dish, it’s important to choose high-quality ingredients, especially the sausage, which is the star of the show. For the best results, use fresh ricotta and a good quality white wine to give the sauce an extra depth of flavour.

When cooking the pasta, make sure to keep it al dente, so it maintains its firm texture and complements the creamy sauce. And don’t forget to sprinkle as much Parmigiano Reggiano as you desire on top, to enhance the dish’s savoury taste. Lastly, to learn more about this dish’s origins, consider adding internal links to Umbria and Norcia in your content.

Watch the Pasta alla Norcina video recipe:

How To Make Pasta alla Norcina Like an Italian

pasta alla norcina recipe

Vincenzo’s Top Tips To Make Pasta alla Norcina

Keep ’em away from burning!

Adding a splash of water ensures the onion and garlic don’t burn for the dish.

Another alternative

You can use water or broth/stock instead of white wine if you prefer.

Finders keepers!

If you can find sheep’s ricotta, it will be even better for the dish.

norcina pasta

Pasta alla Norcina

5 from 4 votes
Prep Time: 5 minutes mins
Cook Time: 25 minutes mins
Total Time: 30 minutes mins
Servings: 2

Equipment

  • Large Frying pan
  • wooden spoon
  • Garlic press
  • Small chef’s knife
  • fork
  • large pot
  • Large mixing bowl
  • Pasta strainer

Ingredients

  • 250 grams Artisan Italian sausages, 8.8oz. 3 sausages
  • 250 grams Rigatoni, or another short pasta ie: mezze maniche, penne
  • 200 grams Ricotta, or heavy cream
  • ½ Onion, Chopped
  • 1 Garlic clove, Crushed
  • 1 tbsp Water, to keep garlic and onion from burning
  • 2 tbsp Parmigiano Reggiano or Pecorino Romano cheese
  • 1 Fresh truffle, or truffle oil
  • ½ Rlass white wine
  • Extra virgin olive oil, EVOO
  • Salt & pepper
  • 1 Tbsp Rock salt, for boiling the pasta

Instructions

  • This pasta alla norcina is all about the region of Umbria; I’m even starting with extra virgin olive oil from Umbria to celebrate. Add a generous amount to a pan (about four tablespoons) on medium heat.
  • Next, add your onion and sauté for about 2-3 minutes, or until it begins to brown slightly – stir frequently.
  • Crush the garlic into the onion for extra flavor, stir, then add one tablespoon of water. Cook for another two minutes.
  • Put a slit down the middle of each sausage and remove the skin. Then press down on each one using a fork.
  • Add the squashed sausages into the pan and use the fork or a wooden spoon to separate the mince as quickly as you can as it will start to cook through right away (it will become much harder so break the mince down once it is cooked!).
  • Add 5L of water to a large pot, and once the water boils, add one tablespoon of rock salt, and stir to dissolve. Then, add the rigatoni to the salted boiling water, stirring occasionally.
  • Cook the pasta according to the package directions; mine took 13 minutes.
  • Once the sausage meat is browned, add the white wine to your mixture.
  • Add a little bit of salt and a generous amount of freshly grated black pepper.
  • Grab a mug of pasta water and set it aside for the Pasta alla Norcina sauce.
  • Next, add your fresh ricotta to a large mixing bowl, and squash it down with a fork. Then combine Parmigiano Reggiano/grated pecorino cheese, 4 tablespoons of pasta water, and mix.
  • If you need more pasta water, you can add a few more tablespoons until you get a nice, creamy texture. Now you have the cream for your pasta alla norcina!
  • There should be very little liquid left in the meat mixture. Break up the sausage more into smaller pieces if you can and make sure it’s cooked through too.
  • Add the ricotta cream to the meat mixture and stir.
  • Grate about 1/3 of the truffle into the sauce. As the sauce cooks, the truffle flavor will release – as will the smell!
  • Strain the pasta and add it to the sauce, adding about four tablespoons of pasta water and continue to stir.
  • Here’s my favorite part – tossing the pasta. This helps combine all the ingredients for the pasta alla norcina
  • E ora si mangia, Vincenzo’s Plate….Enjoy!

Video

Author: Vincenzo’s Plate

How to serve Pasta alla Norcina

Now your creamy, rich pasta dish is ready to serve! Add a serving of this pasta dish to a plate, making sure to get extra sauce and sausage on top (the best part!). The only thing missing is the extra truffle. Shave the desired amount on top, and it’s ready to eat. Now you have pasta alla norcina, the authentic Umbrian way.

If you want to enjoy a family-style meal, you can serve it on one big plate instead, like nonna.

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Recipe Rating




10 responses

  1. FranFrancis.Linsalato@gmail.comFrancis.Linsalato@gmail.com
    May 19, 2023

    5 stars
    I made it yesterday and I was glad I had truffle oil on hand. It was fantastic. I’m going to get more truffle oil and try Jared truffles next time.
    Thanks for the recipe.

    Reply
    1. Vincenzo’s Plate
      July 17, 2023

      Hi! Thanks for the feedback! I’m so glad you enjoyed the pasta alla norcina recipe. I’m also glad you had truffle oil on hand. It really takes the dish to the next level.

      Reply
  2. Jason Leonard
    June 24, 2023

    This was good even without truffle oil. Nice creamy flavor without the high amounts of saltiness in many US cream / Alfredo recipes. The wine and Italian sausage evens everything out. Simple, easy, tasty.

    Reply
    1. Vincenzo’s Plate
      July 17, 2023

      I agree that many US cream/Alfredo recipes can be too salty. I think the wine and Italian sausage in this recipe help to balance out the flavors and create a more complex and nuanced dish.

      Reply
  3. Beau
    October 8, 2023

    5 stars
    Made this today, and it was delicious.
    Greetings from Belgium!

    Reply
    1. Vincenzo’s Plate
      October 9, 2023

      Hello from the land down under! Pasta alla norcina is a classic Italian dish from the Umbria region. It’s made with a creamy sauce of sausage, black truffles, and pecorino romano cheese. The dish is simple to make, but it’s packed with flavor.

      Reply
  4. Lance Litchfield
    October 28, 2023

    5 stars
    Terrific recipe. Thanks Vincenzo every recipe of yours I have made has been delicious. I’ll definitely use truffle next time it would take it to the next level.

    Reply
    1. Vincenzo’s Plate
      November 3, 2023

      I agree with you that adding truffle to the dish would take it to the next level. Truffles have a unique and pungent flavor that pairs perfectly with the sausage and cream sauce in pasta alla norcina.

      Reply
  5. Meghan Hughes
    November 2, 2023

    5 stars
    I had this dish in Rome and couldn’t stop thinking about it for 10yrs. I found Vincenzo’s recipe and blew my own mind. 😍. delicious, authentic, hearty. You won’t be disappointed.

    Reply
    1. Vincenzo’s Plate
      November 3, 2023

      I’ve been to Rome several times myself, and I can tell you that pasta alla norcina is one of the most popular dishes there. It’s a simple dish, but it’s incredibly flavorful. The sausage, mushrooms, and cream all come together to create a rich and satisfying sauce.

      Reply

Ciao, from Vincenzo

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