Caponata Mare E Monte Recipes

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.)

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.

CAPONATA

Steps:

• Roast the eggplant, allow to cool and chop coarsely.
• Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil over medium heat in a large, heavy nonstick skillet and add the onion and celery. Cook, stirring, until the onion softens, about 5 minutes, and add the garlic. Cook together for a minute, until the garlic begins to smell fragrant, and add the peppers and 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Cook, stirring, until just about tender, about 8 minutes. Add another tablespoon of oil and the eggplant, and stir together for another 5 minutes, until the vegetables are tender. The eggplant will fall apart, which is fine. Season to taste.
• Add the tomatoes to the pan with about 1/2 teaspoon salt and a pinch of sugar. Cook, stirring and scraping the bottom of the pan often, for 5 to 10 minutes, until the tomatoes have cooked down somewhat and they smell fragrant. Add the capers, olives, remaining sugar, and vinegar. Turn the heat to medium-low and cook, stirring often, for 20 to 30 minutes, until the vegetables are thoroughly tender and the mixture is quite thick, sweet, and fragrant. Season to taste with salt and pepper and remove from the heat. Allow to cool to room temperature. If possible, cover and chill overnight. 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.

EASY AND DELICIOUS "MARE E MONTI" PASTA

Steps:

• Cook pasta, drain and set aside.
• Heat a pan, add a couple tablespoons olive oil or butter and lightly fry your garlic clove cut into slices.
• Add diced mushrooms and sauté.
• Next step is adding your shrimps/prawns, stir and wait til they turn white (do not overcook or they´ll be dry and tasteless).
• Add your diced tomatoes, a pinch of salt and a bit of sugar.
• Once tomatoes have lost most of it´s water add cream and pepper, mixing it all together and let simmer for 5 minutes.
• Add your cooked and drained pasta, mix well and enjoy!

SPAGHETTI MARE E MONTE

Steps:

• Cook your pasta (by the time it's done, your sauce will be ready). Pour the olive oil into a pan over medium-high heat, and then in go the chili pepper flakes, if using, garlic and zucchini. Saute 1 minute, keeping an eye on the zucchini so it doesn't burn. Add the cherry tomatoes and some salt and cook until the zucchini and tomatoes soften.
• Toss the spaghetti in the pan with the vegetables. Remove from the heat and stir in the shrimp (the steam from the pasta will cook the delicate shrimp quickly). Finish with the parsley and a drizzle of olive oil.

CAPONATA MARE E MONTE

Steps:

• Quickly dunk your friselle in a bowl of water and then transfer to another dry bowl. You don't want them too wet - they should have a little bit of crunch in the center. Add your cherry tomatoes and set aside.
• Place the shrimp in a bowl and cover with the olive oil, orange zest and juice, and some salt and pepper. Let marinate 10 minutes.
• Arrange the shrimp, bread and tomatoes on a serving platter along with the marinade. Add the basil and mozzarella, season with salt and pepper and finish with a drizzle of olive oil.