"Mamma's caponata" is a traditional Sicilian dish that has been enjoyed for centuries. This flavorful dish is made with eggplant, tomatoes, peppers, onions, and capers, and is often served as an appetizer or side dish. The combination of sweet and sour flavors makes this dish a favorite among many, and there are many different variations on the classic recipe. Whether you are looking for a traditional recipe or a more modern take on this classic dish, there is sure to be a recipe that will satisfy your cravings.
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MAMMA'S CAPONATA
Great as an appetizer, but you can easily turn this into a meal. Instead of topping bread, serve over warm pasta. -Georgette Stubin, Canton, Michigan
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Appetizers
Time 1h10m
Yield 6 cups.
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- In a Dutch oven, saute eggplant in 1/4 cup oil until tender. Remove from the pan and set aside. In the same pan, saute onion and celery in remaining oil until tender. Stir in tomatoes and eggplant. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 15 minutes., Add the olives, vinegar, sugar, capers, salt and pepper. Return to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 20 minutes or until thickened. Serve warm or at room temperature with baguettes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 57 calories, Fat 4g fat (1g saturated fat), Cholesterol 0 cholesterol, Sodium 134mg sodium, Carbohydrate 6g carbohydrate (4g sugars, Fiber 2g fiber), Protein 1g protein. Diabetic Exchanges
CAPONATA
Provided by Anne Burrell
Time 1h10m
Yield 6 to 8 servings
Number Of Ingredients 18
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
- In a large bowl, toss the eggplant generously with olive oil and salt, to taste. Spread out on a baking sheet and roast until the eggplant is soft and mushy, about 15 to 20 minutes. Reserve.
- Coat a wide deep pot with olive oil. Toss in the onion and crushed red pepper and season with salt, to taste. Cook over medium-high heat until the onions are soft and aromatic, about 8 to 10 minutes.
- Add the fennel, celery and garlic and cook for another 5 to 6 minutes. Stir in the peppers and cook for another 5 to 6 minutes. Add the zucchini, season with salt, to taste, and cook until the zucchini and all the veggies are soft and aromatic and starting to come together as a stew, about 5 to 6 minutes. Toss in the eggplant, 1/2 cup of water and the tomato paste. Cook until the water has evaporated. Dissolve the sugar in the vinegar in a small bowl and add it to the mixture. Stir in the raisins, capers, pine nuts and mint. Cook for another 5 to 6 minutes.
- Let cool and transfer the caponata to a serving bowl. Serve immediately or even better tomorrow or the next day.
MUSHROOM CAPONATA
This is a lovely appetizer when served with crostini, pita bread, bagel chips or crackers. I've also used it as a topping over a salad of mixed greens. This mushroom version of a caponata is a twist on the traditional eggplant one.-Julia Cotton, Pacific Palisades, California
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Appetizers
Time 50m
Yield 6 cups.
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- In a large cast-iron or other heavy skillet, saute green peppers and onion in 1 tablespoon butter and 1 tablespoon oil for 10 minutes or until golden brown., Add half the mushrooms and remaining butter and oil; saute until tender. Remove onion mixture and set aside. Saute remaining mushrooms until tender. Return all to the pan. Cover and simmer over medium-high heat for 2 minutes. , Add the olives, vinegar, tomato paste, sugar, oregano, salt and pepper. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, until thickened, about 10 minutes., Serve warm or at room temperature with bagel chips or baguette slices.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 53 calories, Fat 3g fat (1g saturated fat), Cholesterol 3mg cholesterol, Sodium 107mg sodium, Carbohydrate 6g carbohydrate (3g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 2g protein. Diabetic Exchanges
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
MAGGIE BEER'S CAPONATA
Maggie is a well known Australian cook based in the Barossa. This recipe is notable for the inclusion of chocolate.
Provided by Missy Wombat
Categories Spreads
Time 35m
Yield 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Sauté the onion and celery in a frying pan with a splash of olive oil until the onion colours a little and the celery retains a crunchy firmness.
- Add the sugar and mix well to combine, deglaze with the vinegar and continue to cook until a little syrupy. Remove from the pan and set aside.
- Add a good splash of extra virgin olive oil (evoo) to the pan, and fry off the eggplant (you may need to do this in batches if your pan isn't big enough) adding a little more oil if needed and a little salt.
- When the eggplant is almost cooked all the way through with a rich golden colour, add the diced tomatoes. Reduce the heat and continue to cook until the tomato has softened a little.
- Add the onion and celery mixture along with all the liquid back into the pan with the eggplant. Mix well and then add the olives, capers, sea salt and freshly ground black pepper.
- While the mixture is still warm, add the chocolate so that it melts and stir in gently. Then add the basil and adjust the seasoning if necessary.
- Serve!
Nutrition Facts : Calories 75.4, Fat 1.1, SaturatedFat 0.5, Sodium 13, Carbohydrate 16.9, Fiber 5.2, Sugar 10.8, Protein 2
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
Tips:
- Choose ripe and flavorful vegetables: The fresher and more flavorful the vegetables, the better your caponata will be. Look for eggplant, zucchini, celery, and onions that are firm and brightly colored.
- Don't overcook the vegetables: The vegetables should be tender but still have a slight bite to them. Overcooking will make them mushy and bland.
- Use a good quality olive oil: Olive oil is an essential ingredient in caponata, so it's worth investing in a good one. Extra virgin olive oil is the best choice, as it has a more robust flavor and aroma.
- Add some sweetness: Caponata is traditionally made with a little bit of sugar or honey to balance out the acidity of the tomatoes. You can also add some dried fruit, such as raisins or currants, for a touch of sweetness and texture.
- Season to taste: Caponata should be well-seasoned with salt, pepper, and herbs. Taste it as you go and adjust the seasoning accordingly.
Conclusion:
Caponata is a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed as an appetizer, side dish, or main course. It's a great way to use up summer vegetables and it's also a good make-ahead dish. The flavors of caponata only improve with time, so it's a great dish to make for a party or potluck.
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