Welcome to the delightful world of Greek caponata, a vibrant and flavorful dish that embodies the essence of Mediterranean cuisine. Inspired by the culinary expertise of Giada De Laurentiis, this recipe takes you on a culinary journey to Greece, where fresh vegetables, tangy capers, and aromatic herbs come together to create a symphony of flavors. Whether you're a seasoned chef looking to expand your culinary repertoire or a home cook seeking a delicious and nutritious meal, this article will guide you through the steps of preparing this delectable dish, ensuring a satisfying and memorable dining experience.
Here are our top 5 tried and tested recipes!
GREEK NOODLE CASSEROLE (PASTITSIO)
Provided by Giada De Laurentiis
Categories main-dish
Time 1h30m
Yield 6 to 8 servings
Number Of Ingredients 19
Steps:
- Place an oven rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 400 degrees F. Butter a 9-by-13-inch baking dish.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Cook the noodles until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, 7 to 9 minutes. Drain and transfer to a large bowl.
- Heat the oil over medium-high heat in a large skillet. Add the onion, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally until soft, about 4 minutes. Add the garlic and cook until aromatic, about 30 seconds. Add the lamb, cumin, coriander, cinnamon, allspice, 1 teaspoon salt and the remaining 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, until cooked through, about 6 minutes. Add the tomato sauce and mint. Bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 5 minutes.
- For the sauce: Simmer the milk and cream over medium heat in a medium heavy-bottomed saucepan. Reduce the heat to low. Add the cheese and whisk until the cheese is melted and the sauce is smooth. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the yogurt.
- Add the meat sauce to the pasta and toss well until the noodles are coated. Transfer the mixture to the baking dish. Spoon the cheese sauce evenly on top and bake until golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes. Sprinkle with chopped mint if using, and serve.
CAPONATA PANINI
Provided by Giada De Laurentiis
Categories main-dish
Time 55m
Yield 4 panini
Number Of Ingredients 16
Steps:
- Preheat a panini grill.
- Using a grapefruit spoon or fingers, scoop out a 1-inch wide trough along the cut sides of the baguettes. Place 2 half-slices of the provolone cheese on each bottom half of the baguettes. Spoon 1/3 cup of the caponata on top of the cheese. Place the top halves on the baguettes and grill the panini until the cheese melts, about 5 minutes.
- In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook until translucent, about 3 minutes. Add the celery and eggplant and cook until soft, about 3 to 4 minutes. Add the red bell pepper and cook until crisp-tender, about 5 minutes. Add the tomatoes, raisins, and oregano to the pan. Simmer over medium-low heat, stirring frequently, until the mixture thickens, about 20 minutes. Stir in the vinegar, sugar, capers, 1/2 teaspoon of salt and 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper. Season, to taste, with more salt and pepper, if needed.
CAPONATA PICNIC SANDWICHES
Provided by Giada De Laurentiis
Time 55m
Yield 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 16
Steps:
- Heat 1/4 cup of the oil in a heavy large skillet over medium heat. Add the celery and saute until crisp-tender, about 2 minutes. Add the eggplant and saute until beginning to soften, about 2 minutes. Season with salt. Add the red pepper and cook until crisp-tender, about 5 minutes. Add the onion and saute until translucent, about 3 minutes. Add the diced tomatoes with their juices, raisins, and oregano. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Simmer over medium-low heat until the flavors blend and the mixture thickens, stirring often, about 20 minutes. Add the vinegar, sugar, and capers. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
- Cut the bread pieces horizontally in half. Grill the bread cut-side down on a grill pan over medium-high heat until golden, about 2 minutes. Rub the whole garlic cloves over the toasted side of the bread. Add a slice of mozzarella to bread bottom, spoon the caponata on top, cover with the other bread half, and serve.
- To take for a picnic: Wrap the sandwiches separately in plastic wrap or parchment paper. Chill until ready to serve, or keep at room temperature up to 1 hour.
GREEK CAPONATA RECIPE COURTESY GIADA DE LAURENTIIS
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Pour the canned tomatoes into a 3 1/2-quart baking dish and spread to cover the bottom. In a large bowl combine the remaining ingredients (excluding the bread). Toss to coat. Pour the vegetables over the canned tomatoes in an even layer. Cover the baking dish with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and bake until the edges of the vegetables are golden, about 30 to 40 minutes. Serve alone as a side, or over toasted sourdough bread for a main dish.
GREEK CAPONATA
Make and share this Greek Caponata recipe from Food.com.
Provided by Giniaa
Categories Vegetable
Time 1h5m
Yield 4-6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
- Pour the canned tomatoes into a 3 1/2-quart baking dish and spread to cover the bottom. In a large bowl combine the remaining ingredients (excluding the bread). Toss to coat. Pour the vegetables over the canned tomatoes in an even layer.
- Cover the baking dish with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and bake until the edges of the vegetables are golden, about 30 to 40 minutes.
- Serve alone as a side, or over toasted sourdough bread for a main dish.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 246.5, Fat 14.3, SaturatedFat 2, Sodium 1114.8, Carbohydrate 28.8, Fiber 6.2, Sugar 10.9, Protein 5.3
Tips:
- Mise en place: Before you start cooking, make sure you have all your ingredients and equipment ready to go. This will help you stay organized and efficient in the kitchen.
- Use quality ingredients: The better the quality of your ingredients, the better your caponata will taste. Look for fresh, organic vegetables and high-quality olive oil.
- Don't overcrowd the pan: When you're sautéing the vegetables, make sure you don't overcrowd the pan. This will prevent them from cooking evenly.
- Cook the vegetables until they're tender-crisp: You don't want the vegetables to be too soft or too crunchy. They should be tender-crisp, with a slight bite to them.
- Use a good-quality balsamic vinegar: The balsamic vinegar is what gives caponata its characteristic sweet and tangy flavor. Make sure you use a good-quality balsamic vinegar that has a rich, complex flavor.
- Let the caponata cool before serving: Caponata is best served at room temperature or slightly chilled. This allows the flavors to meld together and develop.
Conclusion:
Giada De Laurentiis' Greek caponata is a delicious and versatile dish that can be served as an appetizer, side dish, or main course. It's packed with flavor and is sure to please everyone at the table. With its vibrant colors and textures, caponata is also a visually appealing dish that will add a touch of elegance to any meal. So next time you're looking for a new and exciting dish to try, give this Greek caponata a try. You won't be disappointed!
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