**Sicilian Eggplant Caviar: A Mediterranean Medley of Flavors**
Embark on a culinary journey to the sun-kissed shores of Sicily with our collection of eggplant caviar recipes. This delectable dish, known locally as "caponata," captures the essence of Mediterranean cuisine, blending roasted eggplant, sweet and tangy tomatoes, savory capers, and aromatic herbs into a symphony of flavors.
Our recipes offer a range of variations to suit every palate. From the classic caponata, brimming with the flavors of celery, olives, and pine nuts, to the simplicity of the two-ingredient eggplant and tomato caponata, our selection caters to both traditionalists and culinary adventurers alike.
Dive into the vibrant flavors of caponata alla Trapanese, featuring the unique addition of tuna and a hint of saffron, or explore the richness of caponata alla Siciliana, elevated with the inclusion of golden raisins and pine nuts. And for a vegan twist, our eggplant caviar recipe without tuna offers a satisfying plant-based alternative.
Whether served as an appetizer, a side dish, or even as a main course, Sicilian eggplant caviar is a versatile dish that embodies the culinary spirit of Sicily. Its vibrant colors, tantalizing aromas, and symphony of flavors are sure to transport you to the sun-drenched landscapes of the Mediterranean.
EGGPLANT CAVIAR
Provided by Michael Symon : Food Network
Categories appetizer
Time 1h20m
Yield 8 servings
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Brush eggplant with olive oil and roast eggplants at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until soft.
- Saute the garlic and shallots in 2 ounces olive oil over low heat until they are translucent and aromatic.
- After the eggplant has cooled, remove the pulp from the skins, and place in a food processor and process until smooth.
- Place mixture in a bowl and add remaining ingredients along with garlic and shallots. Season, to taste, with salt and pepper, and serve with pita wedges
EGGPLANT CAPONATA (SICILIAN VERSION)
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
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
ROASTED EGGPLANT CAPONATA
Provided by Ina Garten
Time 3h38m
Yield 8 servings
Number Of Ingredients 16
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a sheet pan with aluminum foil.
- Place the whole eggplant on the pan, prick with a fork in several places, and rub with olive oil. Roast for 45 to 50 minutes, until the eggplant is very soft when pierced with a knife. Set aside to cool. Halve the eggplant, peel, and discard the skin. Place the eggplant, peppers, and olives in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade and pulse until coarsely chopped. Pour into a mixing bowl.
- Meanwhile, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a medium saute pan. Add the onion and red pepper flakes and cook over medium heat for 5 minutes, until the onion is lightly browned. Add the garlic, cook for 1 minute, and add to the eggplant mixture. Add the parsley, pine nuts, lemon juice, capers, tomato paste, vinegar, salt, and pepper and mix. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for a few hours to allow the flavors to develop. Taste for seasonings and serve at room temperature with toasted pita triangles.
SICILIAN STYLE SPAGHETTI AND EGGPLANT
Provided by Tyler Florence
Categories main-dish
Time 1h30m
Yield 4 to 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 18
Steps:
- Heat a grill pan over medium heat. Slice the eggplants into 1/4-inch rounds. Toss them with 1/4 cup olive oil and some salt and pepper. Grill them until marks have formed and they are soft, about 2 to 3 minutes per side. Place them onto a paper towel lined platter. Scatter over 2 cloves of sliced garlic, drizzle with 2 tablespoons of olive oil and the lemon juice, put on a few torn basil leaves, and season it all with salt and pepper. Set aside while you make the sauce.
- Coat a large saute pan with olive oil and place over medium heat. Cook the onions until they are soft, about 5 minutes. Add the chile, garlic, olives and a few hand-torn basil leaves. Carefully add the tomatoes and a pinch of sugar; cook and stir until the liquid is cooked down and the sauce is thick, about 15 minutes. Add the capers, taste, and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper. Lower the heat, cover, and keep warm.
- Fill a large pot with water and bring it to a boil. Add a couple of tablespoons of salt and the spaghetti. Stir to make sure the pasta doesn't stick. Cover and return to a boil. Remove cover and cook for about 6 to 8 minutes, or until the spaghetti is al dente. Drain and add the spaghetti to the tomato sauce. Add the cheese and mix well. Pile onto a platter and top it with the eggplant slices. Garnish with more basil leaves.
SICILIAN EGGPLANT CAVIAR
Provided by Melissa Clark
Categories appetizer
Time 1h30m
Yield 4 to 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Heat oven to 375 degrees. Prick eggplants all over with a fork, then place on a sheet pan. Roast until tender, about 45 minutes. Let cool completely.
- Cut eggplants in half lengthwise, and scoop out meat into a saucepan. Simmer until most of the liquid is evaporated and eggplant is dry, about 20 minutes. Set aside.
- In a large saute pan, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add garlic and red pepper, and saute one minute. Add anchovies and olives, and saute another minute, stirring continuously. Add tomatoes, and cook a minute more. Add eggplant, and cook two minutes. Add cheese, croutons and salt and pepper to taste. Stir in mint and parsley until well combined. Serve immediately.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 179, UnsaturatedFat 7 grams, Carbohydrate 16 grams, Fat 11 grams, Fiber 7 grams, Protein 7 grams, SaturatedFat 3 grams, Sodium 594 milligrams, Sugar 8 grams, TransFat 0 grams
EGGPLANT CAPONATA RECIPE
Eggplant Caponata an iconic Sicilian eggplant recipe, distinctive for it's sweet and sour flavor. It is best served at room temperature and keeps well refrigerated for several days.
Provided by Nadia Fazio
Categories Main Course Side Dish
Time 1h10m
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Cut the eggplants into approximate 1 inch cubes. Place in a large bowl, salt generously and cover with water. Let sit for 30 minutes to 1 hour. Drain, rinse and pat dry.
- Preheat oven to 400F and cover 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Distribute the eggplant cubes in the pans and toss with 3 tbsp. of olive oil in each pan. Bake for 30 minutes, tossing halfway through cooking.
- Meanwhile, in a large skillet heat 2 tbsp. olive oil on medium-high heat, add onion, cook for 3 minutes. Stir in celery, add a pinch of salt, lower heat, cover the pan and let the celery cook for 5 minutes.
- Uncover, increase heat to medium-high, add tomatoes and cook for 5 minutes.
- Stir in olives, capers sugar, red wine vinegar and simmer for 5 minutes.
- Stir in the roasted eggplant and continue to simmer for 5 more minutes. Adjust the seasoning, if necessary.
- Remove from heat and stir in the basil.
Nutrition Facts : Carbohydrate 32 g, Protein 5 g, Fat 26 g, SaturatedFat 4 g, Sodium 397 mg, Fiber 11 g, Sugar 22 g, Calories 357 kcal, UnsaturatedFat 21 g, ServingSize 1 serving
EGGPLANT CAVIAR
Provided by Molly O'Neill
Categories dips and spreads, appetizer
Time 2h10m
Yield Five cups
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Halve the eggplants lengthwise, score with a knife and sprinkle lightly with the kosher salt. Cover with a heavy plate and weigh down the plate to press out the moisture for 1 hour.
- Squeeze excess water from the eggplants. Lay the eggplants skin side down on the coals and roast until completely soft, from 45 minutes to an hour, depending on the heat of the coals. Remove and set aside to cool.
- When the eggplants are cool enough to handle, skin them. Place in a wooden bowl and use a fork to mince them. Remove the pulp to a piece of clean cloth or a towel to drain the excess liquid.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the olive oil, garlic, mustard and salt and pepper. Add the eggplant pulp and stir to mix. Serve immediately or store on ice for up to two days.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 264, UnsaturatedFat 18 grams, Carbohydrate 17 grams, Fat 22 grams, Fiber 9 grams, Protein 3 grams, SaturatedFat 3 grams, Sodium 696 milligrams, Sugar 10 grams, TransFat 0 grams
EGGPLANT CAVIAR
Adapted from my local newspaper as a replacement for the too expensive Beluga caviar. I don't personally like caviar, but my husband does. I am posting this as a "private" recipe. If you are seeing it, then he must have liked it. If you can't find Greek yogurt, you can strain regular yogurt through cheesecloth until it is thickened and almost cheese-like.
Provided by threeovens
Categories Spreads
Time 1h30m
Yield 1 1/2 cups, 6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Puncture the eggplant all around with a sharp knife. Place on a baking sheet or shallow baking dish and bake about 1 1/2 hours until it is very soft.
- Meanwhile soak anchovy fillets in cold water for about 10 minutes. Pat dry and smash with a fork. Place anchovy in a large bowl; add garlic, shallot, capers and pepper. Add a tablespoon olive oil and mix. Set aside.
- Once eggplant is done, allow to rest until is cool enough to handle. Cut open and scoop out the pulp into a large strainer. Scrape the inside of the skin with a spoon to remove all the pulp. Press pulp into strainer to remove as much moisture as you can. Let drain about 10 minutes, then transfer to a cutting board; chop fine.
- Place chopped eggplant in the bowl with the other ingredients and mix well. Add remaining 3 tablespoons of olive oil and mix until smooth. Add lemon juice to taste and salt to taste. Spoon into a serving bowl and sprinkle with chopped parsley.
- Place egg in a small serving bowl; red onion in another small bowl; capers in another bowl; and Greek yogurt in still another small bowl. Serve with toast or pita wedges.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 114.7, Fat 9.5, SaturatedFat 1.4, Cholesterol 2.8, Sodium 189.4, Carbohydrate 6.6, Fiber 3.3, Sugar 2.2, Protein 2.2
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.
- Roast the eggplant properly. Roasting the eggplant brings out its smoky flavor and makes it easier to peel. To roast the eggplant, prick it all over with a fork and then roast it at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for about 30 minutes, or until the eggplant is soft and collapsing.
- Let the eggplant cool completely before handling it. This will help prevent the eggplant from breaking apart.
- Use a food processor to chop the eggplant. This will make the eggplant caviar smooth and creamy.
- Season the eggplant caviar to taste. Add salt, pepper, lemon juice, and other spices to taste.
- Serve the eggplant caviar immediately or store it in the refrigerator for later. Eggplant caviar can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Conclusion:
Sicilian eggplant caviar is a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed as an appetizer, a side dish, or a main course. It is also a healthy dish that is packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. If you are looking for a new and exciting way to enjoy eggplant, give this recipe a try. You won't be disappointed!
Are you curently on diet or you just want to control your food's nutritions, ingredients? We will help you find recipes by cooking method, nutrition, ingredients...
Check it out »
You'll also love