45 minutes
A traditional Sicilian dish featuring a delightful blend of sautéed eggplant, celery, onions, olives, capers, anchovies and tomato sauce, served either cold as an appetizer or hot as a side dish.
Eggplants, trimmed and cut into small cubes
each
to taste
Olive Oil, divided
tablespoons
Celery, thinly sliced
cups
Small Onion, diced
each
cups
Green Olives, pitted
cups
Capers, rinsed and drained
tablespoons
Salt-packed Anchovies, rinsed, filleted and chopped
each
cups
1. Prepare Eggplant
Trim and cut the eggplants into small cubes. Place them in a colander and sprinkle generously with salt. Let them sit for about 15 minutes.
2. Sauté Eggplant
Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat in a heavy pot. Add the eggplant cubes in batches and sauté until golden brown. Remove from pot.
3. Sauté Celery
In the same pot, add another tablespoon of olive oil and the thinly sliced celery. Sauté until golden and slightly softened.
4. Cook Onion
Add the diced onion along with the remaining tablespoon of olive oil. Cook slowly for about 7 minutes until softened and translucent.
5. Simmer Tomato Sauce
Pour in the Simple Tomato Sauce and let it cook with the onions for about 7 minutes.
6. Combine Ingredients
Return the sautéed eggplant to the pot along with the cooked celery. Stir in the green olives, capers, chopped anchovies, and red wine vinegar. Simmer for a few minutes until well combined and heated through.
Add roasted or sautéed chunks of chicken, slices of seared tuna, or even canned sardines or anchovies for a protein-rich twist. The meat or fish complements the vegetables and adds substance to the dish.
Introduce artichoke hearts, feta cheese, or swap olives for sun-dried tomatoes. This variant leans into Mediterranean flavors and works beautifully as a side dish or a stand-alone antipasto.
Spread the Caponata over pizza dough, add cheese if desired, and bake. This makes for a delicious vegetarian pizza option.
Introduce red pepper flakes, fresh chili, or a spoonful of harissa paste for a spicy kick. This caters to those who enjoy a bit of heat with their meals.
During colder months, you might want to incorporate root vegetables like roasted parsnips or sweet potatoes. These ingredients bring a hearty and warming element to the dish.
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