California Caponata Recipes

CAPONATA

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.

EASY CAPONATA

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.

EGGPLANT CAPONATA (SICILIAN VERSION)

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.

CLASSIC CAPONATA

Steps:

• Heat oil in heavy large pot over medium heat. Add eggplant, onion, and garlic cloves. sauté until eggplant is soft and brown, about 15 minutes. Add diced tomatoes with juice, then red wine vinegar and drained capers. Cover and simmer until eggplant and onion are very tender, stirring occasionally, about 12 minutes. Season caponata to taste with salt and pepper. Mix in fresh basil. Transfer caponata to serving bowl. Sprinkle with toasted pine nuts. Serve warm, at room temperature, or cold. (Caponata can be made 2 days ahead. Cover and chill.)

CALIFORNIA CAPONATA

Steps:

• For the salsa verde: Combine the garlic, capers, anchovies, avocado oil and some sea salt in a mortar and pestle. Grind to a paste; then add the parsley, basil, olive oil, pepper flakes and some black pepper. Taste and adjust the seasoning. Set aside. For the caponata: Heat the olive oil in a large cast-iron pan over medium-high heat. Add the eggplant, zucchini, poblano, tomatoes and onion. Sprinkle with sea salt and saute until the vegetables have softened and begun to brown, about 10 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook for another minute. Turn off the heat and mix in the honey and vinegar, and the salsa verde. Serve warm or at room temperature.

CALIFORNIA CAPONATA

Steps:

• For the salsa verde: Combine the garlic, capers, anchovies, avocado oil and some sea salt in a mortar and pestle. Grind to a paste; then add the parsley, basil, olive oil, pepper flakes and some black pepper. Taste and adjust the seasoning. Set aside.
• For the caponata: Heat the olive oil in a large cast-iron pan over medium-high heat. Add the eggplant, zucchini, poblano, tomatoes and onion. Sprinkle with sea salt and saute until the vegetables have softened and begun to brown, about 10 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook for another minute. Turn off the heat and mix in the honey and vinegar, and the salsa verde. Serve warm or at room temperature.

LUCIA'S CHRISTMAS CAPONATA

Steps:

• Heat the extra-virgin olive oil in a large frying pan. Gently saute the celery and garlic. Add the eggplant, salt, and black pepper. Cook until the eggplant is golden. Add the vinegar and allow to reduce. Mix in the chocolate and remove from the heat and allow to rest for 30 minutes before serving.