Savory Sicilian Caponata with Eggplant and Capers

A Classic Italian Eggplant Dish

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

1 h 30 min
4
Intermediate

Ingredients

For the Eggplant Base

2 large eggplants

cut into 1-inch cubes

1 tablespoon salt

for sweating

3 tablespoons olive oil

For the Caponata Mix

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

For the Seasoning

Salt

to taste

Black pepper

to taste

1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

1/4 cup fresh basil

finely chopped

Preparation

Preparing the Eggplant

Salt the eggplant

Toss eggplant cubes with 1 tablespoon of salt in a colander.

Let the eggplant sweat

Let them sit for 30 minutes to remove excess moisture.

Rinse and dry

Rinse and pat dry with paper towels.

Assembling the Caponata

Heat olive oil

Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large pan over medium heat.

Sauté aromatics

Sauté onion and garlic until translucent.

Add red bell pepper

Add red bell pepper, cooking until soft.

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.

Cooking Process

Fry the eggplant

Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a separate pan, fry eggplant until golden brown.

Mix components

Add the fried eggplant to the onion mixture with tomatoes, olives, capers, vinegar, and sugar.

Simmer

Cook on low heat for 20 minutes until the mixture is well combined and slightly thickened.

Plating & Serving

Savory Sicilian Caponata with Eggplant and Capers

FaUtensils

Serve

Spoon the caponata into a shallow dish, letting the juices pool gently around the edges.

Sauce Pairings

Balsamic Reduction

for drizzling

Crusty Italian Bread

for dipping

Garnishes & Accompaniments

Fresh basil leavesLemon zest

Perfect Sides

Fresh green salad

Grilled polenta