Caponata is a delicious Sicilian dish that is perfect for a light lunch or dinner. It is made with eggplant, tomatoes, celery, and onions, and is often flavored with capers, olives, and raisins. Fennel adds a unique anise flavor to this classic dish, and the olives and raisins add a touch of sweetness and savoriness. This recipe is easy to follow and can be made in about an hour.
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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.
CAPONATA WITH FENNEL, OLIVES AND RAISINS
Caponata is a Sicilian specialty typically served as a relish or side dish. It also works as an appetizer on bread rounds. Roberta Gangi: Few salads epitomize Sicilian cuisine as much as caponata, which probably takes its name from an essential ingredient (though not the principal one), capers. Like so much of Sicilian cuisine, caponata comes to us from the Arabs. Indeed, a case could be made that their contributions to Sicilian food, and to some extent the Sicilian language, are the Arabs' most enduring legacy in the living culture of twenty-first century Sicily. There are various recipes for caponata; some include artichokes or sweet peppers. In order of amount, the necessary ingredients are eggplants (aubergines), celery, green olives, tomatoes (a modern addition), onions, capers, virgin olive oil, vinegar, sugar. The ingredients must be prepared carefully. The celery, for example, should not be overcooked and must remain firm. The cured or salted capers must be thoroughly rinsed. The aubergines may be steamed slightly and then sautéed, though some purists prefer frying. The histories of human migrations are full of agricultural introductions; domesticated wheat probably arrived in Sicily only around 7,000 BC. Like many fruits and vegetables, aubergines (Solanum Melongena) may have been known to the ancient Romans, perhaps as something encountered on the eastern fringes of their Empire. The eggplant is native to southern India. It was introduced in the Mediterranean region by the Arabs in their rapid expansion ever westward from the Middle East. Chilled caponata, with its slightly exotic aroma and taste, is the perfect complement to the cold salads of summer, but is enjoyable year round. If somebody in Sicily offers you "Baroque" caponata they plan to sprinkle powdered unsweetened Modica Chocolate over it just before serving --an interesting touch but not welcome by all diners. Here's a basic recipe.
Provided by Phil Franco
Categories Spreads
Time 1h15m
Yield 6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 11
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 sugar, salt and pepper. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.) Serve at room temperature. Makes 6 cups.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 263.7, Fat 15.4, SaturatedFat 2.1, Sodium 386.5, Carbohydrate 32.8, Fiber 8.1, Sugar 19.4, Protein 3.8
FIG AND FENNEL CAPONATA
Steps:
- Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a 10-inch saute pan. Add the onions and fennel and saute for 7 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened. Add the garlic and cook for one more minute. Stir in the vinegar, tomatoes, figs, and brown sugar, stirring to coat everything with the tomatoes. Stir in the capers, olives, orange zest, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer for 8 to 10 minutes, until thickened. Stir in the orange juice and parsley. Taste for seasonings; the caponata should be very highly seasoned. Serve the caponata warm or at room temperature with slices of grilled bread.
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
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.
Tips:
- Choose ripe and flavorful ingredients: The quality of your ingredients will greatly impact the final dish, so make sure to use the best produce you can find.
- Don't be afraid to experiment with different variations: There are many ways to make caponata, so feel free to experiment with different ingredients and flavors. For example, you could try adding different types of olives, raisins, or nuts.
- Make sure to cook the caponata slowly and gently: This will allow the flavors to develop and meld together. Avoid overcooking, as this will make the vegetables mushy.
- Serve caponata at room temperature or chilled: Both ways are delicious, so it depends on your personal preference.
Conclusion:
Caponata is a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed as an appetizer, side dish, or main course. It is a great way to use up summer vegetables, and it is also a good make-ahead dish. Caponata can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a week, or in the freezer for up to three months.
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