Appetizer · Side Dish · Italian ·

Savory Sicilian Caponata with Eggplant and Capers

Name: Savory Sicilian Caponata with Eggplant and Capers
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 90 min
Total time: 120 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Appetizer
Ingredients: 2 large eggplants, cut into 1-inch cubes; 1 tablespoon salt, for sweating; 3 tablespoons olive oil; 1 medium onion, finely chopped; 2 garlic cloves, minced; 1 red bell pepper, diced; 2 cups ripe tomatoes, peeled and diced; 1/4 cup capers, rinsed; 1/4 cup green olives, pitted and sliced; 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar; 1 tablespoon sugar; Salt, to taste; Black pepper, to taste; 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano; 1/4 cup fresh basil, finely chopped

A traditional Sicilian dish featuring rich eggplant, flavorful capers, and sweet tomatoes, perfect for a hearty appetizer or a side dish.

5(984 reviews)

·By Ethan Brooks·July 22, 2025

Savory Sicilian Caponata with Eggplant and Capers — Appetizer served and photographed from above

Prep

30 min

Cook

1 h 30 min

Difficulty

Intermediate

Serves

Ingredients

Servings

For the Eggplant Base

For the Caponata Mix

For the Seasoning

Nutrition

Per serving

Calories: 194 kcal
Protein: 2.25 g
Carbs: 22.5 g
Fat: 12 g
Fiber: 7.5 g

Whole recipe

Total

Calories: 774 kcal
Protein: 9 g
Carbs: 90 g
Fat: 48 g
Fiber: 30 g

Breakdown by ingredient▾

Ingredient	Cal	P	C	F	Fib
2 large eggplants cut into 1-inch cubes	160	4	40	1	20
1 tablespoon salt for sweating	0	0	0	0	0
3 tablespoons olive oil	360	0	0	42	0
1 medium onion finely chopped	44	1	10	0	2
2 garlic cloves minced	8	0	2	0	0
1 red bell pepper diced	37	1	9	0	3
2 cups ripe tomatoes peeled and diced	64	3	14	1	4
1/4 cup capers rinsed	4	0	0	0	0
1/4 cup green olives pitted and sliced	41	0	2	4	1
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar	4	0	0	0	0
1 tablespoon sugar	49	0	13	0	0
Salt to taste	0	0	0	0	0
Black pepper to taste	0	0	0	0	0
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano	2	0	0	0	0
1/4 cup fresh basil finely chopped	1	0	0	0	0

These are estimates, not dietary advice.

Preparation

Get these tasks done before you start cooking.

Preparing the Eggplant

1
Salt the eggplant
Toss eggplant cubes with 1 tablespoon of salt in a colander.
2
Let the eggplant sweat
Let them sit for 30 minutes to remove excess moisture.
3
Rinse and dry
Rinse and pat dry with paper towels.

Assembling the Caponata

1
Heat olive oil
Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large pan over medium heat.
2
Sauté aromatics
Sauté onion and garlic until translucent.
3
Add red bell pepper
Add red bell pepper, cooking until soft.
Tip: Do not over-sauté the vegetables; they should remain firm to maintain texture. For deeper flavor, let the caponata sit for a few hours before serving.

How to Make Savory Sicilian Caponata with Eggplant and Capers

Total time: 2 h · Yields 4 servings

1
Fry the eggplant
Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a separate pan, fry eggplant until golden brown.
2
Mix components
Add the fried eggplant to the onion mixture with tomatoes, olives, capers, vinegar, and sugar.
3
Simmer
Cook on low heat for 20 minutes until the mixture is well combined and slightly thickened.