Best 3 Eggplant Parmigiana Caponata Recipes

Embark on a culinary journey to Italy with two delectable recipes that celebrate the versatility of eggplant. Eggplant Parmigiana, a classic dish from southern Italy, tantalizes taste buds with layers of tender eggplant, savory tomato sauce, and melted cheese. Caponata, a Sicilian specialty, offers a delightful mix of sweet and savory flavors with roasted eggplant, tangy tomatoes, and a medley of vegetables. Get ready to indulge in these Italian masterpieces that are sure to impress even the most discerning palate.

Here are our top 3 tried and tested recipes!

EGGPLANT CAPONATA

Eggplant Caponata image

Caponata became part of Sicilian cooking centuries ago, when the island was under Arab rule. The Arabs brought eggplants and sugar, along with citrus and spices. Other versions of caponata contain raisins and pine nuts; this one has capers and green olives. Some cooks add a lot of tomato, but I prefer just a touch of good tomato paste. The seasoning is sweet, sour and salty, and laced with olive oil. Like pickles and other savory preserves, caponata is often made in quantity and stored in jars for use throughout the year. Serve it on little toasts as an appetizer or to accompany a meal.

Provided by David Tanis

Categories dips and spreads, vegetables, appetizer, side dish

Time 2h

Yield 6 or more servings

Number Of Ingredients 14

Ingredients

Extra-virgin olive oil
3 or 4 small eggplants (about 2 pounds), peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
Salt and pepper
1 onion, chopped
4 small celery stalks, chopped (about 1 cup), blanched for 1 minute in boiling salted water, then cooled
1 tablespoon tomato paste
2 tablespoons capers, rinsed
1 cup good-quality green olives, pitted
Pinch of crushed red pepper
1 bay leaf
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1/2 cup dry white wine
2 tablespoons chopped parsley

Steps:

Put a wide cast-iron pan over medium-high heat. Add 4 tablespoons olive oil to coat surface of pan. When oil is wavy, test by adding a cube of eggplant. It should begin to sizzle and brown immediately. Fill the pan with a single layer of eggplant cubes. Turn eggplant with a spatula or tongs and brown nicely on all sides. Lower heat as necessary to maintain an even temperature; if the pan is too hot, the eggplant will burn.
Remove cooked eggplant to a plate and continue to fry remaining eggplant in batches, adding more oil as necessary. Season finished eggplant with salt and pepper. (Alternatively, roast the eggplant on a baking sheet at 400 degrees, lightly drizzled with oil, until cooked and nicely browned, about 20 minutes.)
Meanwhile, heat 2 tablespoons oil in a stainless-steel skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions, season lightly with salt and cook, stirring, until softened and lightly colored, about 5 minutes. Stir in blanched celery, tomato paste, capers and olives. Add crushed red pepper, bay leaf, sugar, vinegar and wine. Simmer for 5 minutes.
Gently fold in cooked eggplant and simmer 2 or 3 minutes more. Taste cooking juices and adjust salt if necessary. Let mellow for 1 hour at room temperature (or make it a day in advance for fuller flavor). Sprinkle with parsley to serve. The caponata will keep for a week, refrigerated.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 147, UnsaturatedFat 6 grams, Carbohydrate 18 grams, Fat 7 grams, Fiber 5 grams, Protein 2 grams, SaturatedFat 1 gram, Sodium 583 milligrams, Sugar 12 grams

EGGPLANT CAPONATA (SICILIAN VERSION)

Eggplant Caponata (Sicilian Version) image

Delicious relish or appetizer that can be served hot or cold! Serve with toasted crusty bread.

Provided by rocks_67

Categories Appetizers and Snacks Antipasto Recipes

Time 1h34m

Yield 16

Number Of Ingredients 16

Ingredients

1 eggplant, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch cubes
salt to taste
¼ cup olive oil, divided
1 cup finely chopped celery
1 onion, finely chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1 ½ cups canned plum tomatoes, drained and coarsely chopped
12 green olives, pitted and coarsely chopped
1 ½ tablespoons drained capers
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 teaspoon minced oregano
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
2 teaspoons white sugar
1 teaspoon salt
ground black pepper to taste
2 teaspoons minced fresh parsley, or to taste

Steps:

Toss eggplant with salt and place in a colander set over a bowl. Let sit, about 30 minutes. Rinse and pat dry.
Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add celery; cook, stirring often, until softened, about 4 minutes. Add onion and garlic; cook and stir until onion is soft and lightly golden, about 5 minutes. Transfer mixture to a bowl using a slotted spoon.
Heat remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil in the skillet. Add eggplant and cook, stirring constantly, until lightly browned, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in celery mixture, tomatoes, olives, capers, tomato paste, and oregano. Bring to a boil; reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered until caponata is thickened, about 15 minutes.
Season caponata with vinegar, sugar, salt, and black pepper. Transfer to a serving bowl and garnish with parsley.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 54.3 calories, Carbohydrate 4.9 g, Fat 3.9 g, Fiber 1.9 g, Protein 0.9 g, SaturatedFat 0.5 g, Sodium 297 mg, Sugar 2.2 g

EGGPLANT PARMIGIANA CAPONATA

Eggplant Parmigiana Caponata image

I made this recipe to combine the tastes of eggplant parmesan and caponata, an Italian eggplant appetizer. It is quite rich and uses a lot of olive oil. It is best served with linguini or some other kind of pasta on the side. It is a bit sweet and a bit salty with a nice texture.

Provided by JenFen

Categories World Cuisine Recipes European Italian

Time 1h10m

Yield 8

Number Of Ingredients 18

Ingredients

1 cup olive oil, divided
1 eggplant, sliced into 1/2 inch rounds
2 red bell peppers, chopped
8 slices mozzarella cheese
1 small onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 (16 ounce) can stewed tomatoes, with juice
1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil
1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano
¼ cup balsamic vinegar
¼ cup red wine vinegar
½ cup brown sugar
8 tablespoons tomato paste
8 anchovy fillets, chopped
3 tablespoons capers, chopped
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Steps:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Heat 1/2 cup olive oil in a large heavy skillet. Saute eggplant until each piece becomes saturated with oil. Use eggplant to line the bottom of a 3 quart casserole dish. Saute the red peppers until tender, and layer over eggplant in casserole dish. Top with mozzarella.
Heat remaining olive oil, and cook onions and garlic until lightly browned and caramelized. Stir in stewed tomatoes, basil, and oregano and simmer 5 minutes. Add balsamic vinegar, red wine vinegar, brown sugar, and tomato paste. Simmer for 10 minutes. Add anchovy fillets, if using, and capers. Season with salt and pepper. Pour over the mozzarella cheese in the casserole dish. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese on top of sauce.
Bake in preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes, or until cheese is melted.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 480.5 calories, Carbohydrate 30 g, Cholesterol 30.1 mg, Fat 35.2 g, Fiber 4.5 g, Protein 14.3 g, SaturatedFat 8.5 g, Sodium 1120.6 mg, Sugar 22.2 g

Tips:

Choose the right eggplant. Look for eggplants that are firm and have a deep purple color. Avoid eggplants that are soft or have blemishes.
Slice the eggplant evenly. This will help them cook evenly.
Salt the eggplant slices. This will help to draw out the bitterness.
Dredge the eggplant slices in flour. This will help them to brown and crispy.
Fry the eggplant slices in hot oil. This will help them to cook quickly and evenly.
Make sure the sauce is simmering before you add the eggplant. This will help to prevent the eggplant from absorbing too much sauce.
Bake the eggplant parmesan until it is bubbly and golden brown. This will help to ensure that the eggplant is cooked through.
For the caponata, chop the vegetables into small pieces. This will help them to cook evenly.
Sauté the vegetables in olive oil until they are softened. This will help to bring out their flavor.
Add the vinegar, sugar, and raisins. This will help to create a sweet and tangy sauce.

Conclusion:

Eggplant parmesan and caponata are two delicious and versatile dishes that can be enjoyed as a main course or a side dish. Eggplant parmesan is a classic Italian dish that is made with breaded and fried eggplant slices, tomato sauce, and cheese. Caponata is a Sicilian dish that is made with chopped vegetables, vinegar, sugar, and raisins. Both dishes are easy to make and can be enjoyed by people of all ages.