Eggplant Caponata

Servings

6

Serving size

about 3/4 cup
COOKING TIME
75 minutes
CHILLING TIME
60 minutes (overnight is best)

This delicious caponata will keep well, refrigerated, for about a week.

Try it in sandwiches or as a cold or hot side dish.

Eggplant Caponata

Ingredients

2 lb. Eggplant, raw (unpeeled, cut into 1/2 inch cubes)
1 spray as needed Spray olive oil
1 large White or yellow onions (diced)
2 Large stalk Celery, raw (thinly sliced)
6 clove Garlic, raw (thinly sliced)
3 Tbsp. No salt added tomato paste
1/2 cup Water
1/2 tsp. Salt
1 large Tomatoes (diced)
12 large Green olives (coarsely chopped)
1/3 cup (not packed) Golden raisins
2 Tbsp., drained Capers
2 Tbsp. Balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup Fresh basil (coarsely chopped)
2 Tbsp. Fresh parsley (coarsely chopped)
3 Tbsp Pine nuts

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 425°F.

Place the diced eggplant in a large roasting pan and spray with olive oil. Toss the eggplant so it is coated with the olive oil,

Place the roasting pan in the oven and roast the eggplant for a total of 25-30 minutes. Stir the eggplant every 10 minutes to prevent sticking.

When the eggplant is browned and soft, place the eggplant in a bowl and set aside.

Meanwhile, place a medium-large pot or large high-sided skilled over medium heat. Add the olive oil, onions, and celery, and saute until the onions and celery are lightly browned - about 10 minutes.

Add the garlic and continue sauteeing for a minute or two.

Add the tomato paste, water, and salt and stir, then simmer until the mixture is reduced by half.

Add the tomatoes (and more water 1/4 cup at a time if needed) and stir, then simmer for about 10 minutes.

Add the olives, capers, raisins, and balsamic vinegar and stir, adding water if needed. Simmer until the mixture is very thick. Stir frequently so that the bottom doesn't burn.

Once the mixture is thickened, turn off the heat.

Add the cooked eggplant, basil, parsley, and pine nuts and stir until well combined.

Chill. May be served hot, immediately, if desired, but the best flavors will come after the mixture has had time to blend its flavors: ideally overnight.

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GERD / Acid Reflux

This recipe contains GERD triggers and those with GERD may wish to avoid it.

Lactose

This recipe is safe for those who are lactose intolerant.

Coumadin® (Warfarin)

This recipe is NOT safe for Coumadin (warfarin) users.

Gluten Sensitivity

This recipe is safe for those who are sensitive to gluten.

Sodium

This is a low sodium recipe.

Recipe Notes

This is a classic Italian eggplant dish.  It is perfect for taking to your next potluck dinner or for a picnic.  It also makes the perfect snack – veggies galore and 7 grams of fiber.  Super delicious and satisfying.

"All of this could fall flat, feel too much like a caricature of a Sicilian trattoria, if the food itself weren't so damn good: arancini, saffron-scented rice fried into crunchy, greaseless golf balls; polpette di pesce spada, swordfish meatballs with a taste so deep and savory they might as well be made of dry-aged beef; and a superlative version of caponata di melanzane, that ubiquitous Sicilian starter of eggplant, capers, and various other vegetation, stewed into a sweet and savory jam that you will want to smear on everything."

Matt Goulding, Pasta, Pane, Vino: Deep Travels Through Italy's Food Culture