Caponata is a delicious Sicilian dish that is perfect for a summer meal. Made with eggplant, celery, onions, tomatoes, and capers, it is a flavorful and versatile dish that can be served as an appetizer, side dish, or main course. This recipe collection features four variations of caponata, each with its own unique flavor profile. The classic caponata recipe is made with a sweet and sour sauce, while the caponata with pine nuts and raisins adds a touch of sweetness and crunch. The caponata with tuna is a hearty and protein-packed dish, and the caponata with swordfish is a light and flavorful option. Each of these recipes is easy to follow and can be tailored to your own taste preferences. Whether you are looking for a refreshing summer appetizer or a satisfying main course, this collection of caponata recipes has something for everyone.
Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!
SICILIAN CAPONATA RECIPE
This version is all vegetables and the flavors are bursting with each bite. It is a great appetizer to have with a glass of Sicilian Corvo Rosso wine that your guests will thoroughly enjoy.
Provided by Nonna Box
Categories Appetizer
Time 1h15m
Number Of Ingredients 16
Steps:
- Sprinkle the eggplant with salt and put in a colander over a bowl for 20-30 minutes. Rinse with water and transfer the eggplant to a large clean towel and pat dry with paper towel.
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add the extra virgin olive oil, toss the potatoes and cook them until golden brown stirring occasionally.
- Once the potatoes are ready, transfer them to a medium bowl lined with layers of paper towel and set aside. Discard the oil and clean the pan.
- In the same skillet add another 5 tablespoons of olive oil and start frying the bell peppers until soft. Transfer to the bowl with the potatoes and set aside. Discard the oil and clean the pan.
- In the same skillet add another 5 tablespoons of olive oil and fry the eggplant. Watch it while it cooks, as it may need more oil. When it's soft, transfer the cooked eggplant to the bowl with the other vegetables and set aside. Discard the oil and clean the pan.
- Return skillet to heat, add olive oil, onions and celery and cook, stirring continuously to allow caramelization for 10 minutes.
- Reduce heat to medium, add tomato sauce and continue cooking for 10 minutes stirring occasionally.
- Stir in olives, vinegar, capers, sugar and all the fried vegetables and mix together. Cook slowly for a couple of minutes while mixing gently.
- Turn off the heat, add the chopped basil and mix and let it cool at room temperature.
- Serve with a piece of toasted bread of your choice.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 149 kcal, Carbohydrate 18 g, Protein 2 g, Fat 8 g, SaturatedFat 1 g, Sodium 606 mg, Fiber 5 g, Sugar 8 g, ServingSize 200 g, UnsaturatedFat 7 g
EASY CAPONATA
Caponata is a Sicilian dish with eggplant, zucchini, tomato, and peppers traditionally cooked in oil and vinegar and flavored with sugar, raisins, capers, olives, and pine nuts. It's tangy, sweet, crunchy, and salty all at the same time. Serve at room temperature as a side dish to grilled fish or as a starter on toasted bread. Store leftovers in fridge and reheat gently. It will taste even better the next day!
Provided by Carmencita
Categories Side Dish Vegetables Squash Summer Squash
Time 56m
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add celery and cook uncovered until softened, about 1 minute. Drain in a colander and immediately immerse in ice water for several minutes to stop the cooking process. Drain.
- Heat oil in a large non-stick skillet over medium heat; add onion and celery and cook until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add eggplant, red bell peppers, and zucchini and cook until slightly softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in tomato puree, vinegar, and sugar. Cook until the vegetables are tender, about 15 minutes. Add olives, raisins, pine nuts, and capers. Season with salt and pepper and cook until flavors are well combined, about 5 minutes.
- Remove skillet from heat; stir in chopped basil. Cool and serve at room temperature.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 289.5 calories, Carbohydrate 25.2 g, Fat 20.9 g, Fiber 7.1 g, Protein 4.4 g, SaturatedFat 2.9 g, Sodium 424 mg, Sugar 14 g
GRILLED CAPONATA
Steps:
- Heat your grill to high. Brush the eggplant, onion slices and tomatoes with olive oil and season each type of vegetable with salt and pepper, to taste.
- Grill the eggplant for 6 to 8 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through. Grill the onions for 3 to 4 minutes per side until golden brown and just cooked through. Grill the tomatoes for 2 minutes per side until charred and slightly soft. Remove to a cutting board and cut into quarters.
- Remove the vegetables from the grill to a cutting board and cut into 1/2-inch pieces. Transfer the vegetables to a medium bowl and add the olives, capers, raisins and pine nuts.
- Mix together the garlic, red pepper flakes, vinegar and honey in a small bowl and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Slowly drizzle in 1/4 cup of olive oil and whisk until emulsified.
- Pour the dressing over the vegetables, add the parsley and stir gently to combine. Let the salad sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes and up to 2 hours before serving.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 176 calorie, Fat 10 grams, SaturatedFat 1 grams, Cholesterol 0 milligrams, Sodium 441 milligrams, Carbohydrate 22 grams, Fiber 7 grams, Protein 4 grams, Sugar 12 grams
CAPONATA WITH PINE NUTS AND RAISINS
Make and share this Caponata With Pine Nuts and Raisins recipe from Food.com.
Provided by evelynathens
Categories Vegetable
Time 45m
Yield 4-6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Coat 2 cookie sheets with 2 tablespoons olive oil each, spread with eggplant and roast about 10-12 minutes. Remove.
- Saute garlic in 2 tablespoons olive oil over moderate heat until fragrant, about 15 seconds. Add the onions and celery and cook, stirring, until lightly browned, about 10 minutes. Add the tomatoes, cover and cook over moderately low heat, stirring occasionally, about 10 minutes.
- Stir together vinegar and sugar. Add to the onion-tomato mixture along with the eggplant and raisins. Cover and cook over moderately low heat, stirring occasionally, until all the vegetables are tender, about 20 minutes. (May be made to this point up to 3 days ahead. Cover and refrigerate.).
- When ready to serve, let come to room temperature and stir in remaining ingredients. Serve with pita bread crisps.
EGGPLANT CAPONATA PASTA WITH RICOTTA AND BASIL
This weeknight pasta is inspired by traditional caponata, a tangy, salty-sweet Italian dish made with sautéed eggplant, tomatoes, caramelized onions, capers, anchovies, olives and vinegar. Though caponata is often served as a side, salad or relish, this eggplant sauté forms the foundation of a hearty vegetarian pasta. For the best results, taste and season your eggplant mixture with salt and pepper as you cook little by little - or even recklessly. It should taste quite salty and tangy on its own, but will mellow when tossed with pasta, pasta water and creamy ricotta.
Provided by Alexa Weibel
Categories dinner, weekday, pastas, main course
Time 30m
Yield 4 to 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the raisins, sugar, 1 tablespoon salt and 1 cup water to a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat and let cook about 2 minutes, then cover and set aside.
- In a large nonstick skillet, heat 1/4 cup olive oil over medium-high. Stir in half the eggplant to coat evenly in the oil, season generously with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender and browned in spots, 7 to 8 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl. (Eggplant should brown and tenderize but still maintain its shape.) Heat another 1/4 cup oil, then add remaining eggplant; season and repeat.
- While the eggplant cooks, add the pasta to the boiling water and cook until al dente. Reserve 1 cup pasta water, then drain pasta. (You might not use all the pasta water.)
- Add another 2 tablespoons oil to the skillet and reduce the heat to medium. Cook the shallot, pine nuts, capers, garlic and red-pepper flakes, stirring frequently, until the shallot is tender, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to the bowl with the eggplant, along with the sliced basil and vinegar.
- Strain the soaked raisins, discarding the soaking liquid, then add the raisins to the eggplant mixture and toss to coat. Season generously with salt and pepper. The mixture should taste quite aggressively salty and tangy, but it will mellow when tossed with pasta and ricotta. (Eggplant mixture can be made in advance and refrigerated for up to 2 days.)
- Add eggplant mixture, pasta and 1/2 cup reserved pasta water to the pot. Toss to coat over medium heat until eggplant is warmed, adding extra pasta water if necessary. Divide among shallow bowls, top with ricotta and additional torn basil and serve immediately. Pass with additional olive oil for drizzling, if desired.
CAPONATA
A quintessentially Sicilian veggie dish of aubergines, tomatoes, raisins, capers and pine nuts - serve with toasted ciabatta
Provided by John Torode
Categories Dinner, Starter
Time 1h50m
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Pour the olive oil into a large heavybased saucepan or casserole, place over a medium heat and add the aubergines. Cook for a good 15-20 mins until they are soft. Scoop the aubergines out of the pan - you should be left with some olive oil. Add the shallots and cook for about 5 mins until they are soft and translucent. Add the tomatoes and cook slowly, so they break down and turn to a soft mush, then add the aubergines back to the pan. Now put in the capers, raisins, celery and vinegar, season well and cover with a lid. Cook over a low heat for 40 mins, until all the vegetables are soft. Stir gently so it doesn't break up too much; the stew should smell sweet and sour.
- When the caponata is cooked, leave to cool slightly while you make the bruschetta. Heat a griddle pan, drizzle the bread with olive oil and griddle until toasted and lightly charred on both sides, then rub with a garlic clove and season. Serve the warm caponata scattered with the basil leaves and pine nuts, with bruschetta on the side.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 235 calories, Fat 15 grams fat, SaturatedFat 2 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 20 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 8 grams sugar, Fiber 5 grams fiber, Protein 4 grams protein, Sodium 0.4 milligram of sodium
CAPONATA WITH FENNEL, OLIVES, AND RAISINS
Categories Olive Vegetable Appetizer Sauté Quick & Easy Fennel Eggplant Bell Pepper Shower Engagement Party Bon Appétit Vegan Vegetarian Pescatarian Dairy Free Wheat/Gluten-Free Peanut Free Tree Nut Free Soy Free No Sugar Added Kosher
Yield Makes 6 cups
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Heat oil in heavy large pot over medium-high heat. Add eggplant, bell peppers, fennel, and garlic; sauté until eggplant is tender, about 10 minutes. Add olives and raisins, then mix in tomato sauce and vinegar. Cover, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Uncover and simmer until caponata is thick and vegetables are tender, stirring occasionally, about 15 minutes longer. Mix in basil. Season caponata to taste with salt and pepper. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.) Serve at room temperature.
Tips:
- Mise en Place: Before you start cooking, make sure you have all of your ingredients and equipment ready to go. This will help you stay organized and avoid any scrambling.
- Choose High-Quality Ingredients: The quality of your ingredients will have a big impact on the final dish. Use fresh vegetables, ripe fruit, and good-quality olive oil.
- Don't Overcook the Vegetables: The vegetables in caponata should be cooked until they are tender but still have a little bit of bite to them. Overcooking will make them mushy.
- Let the Caponata Cool: Caponata is best served at room temperature or chilled. This allows the flavors to meld together and develop.
- Garnish with Fresh Herbs: Before serving, garnish the caponata with fresh herbs such as basil, oregano, or mint. This will add a pop of color and flavor.
Conclusion:
Caponata is a delicious and versatile dish that can be served as an appetizer, side dish, or main course. It is a great way to use up summer vegetables and is also a good make-ahead dish. With its sweet, sour, and savory flavors, caponata is sure to please everyone at your table.
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