Greek Caponata Recipes

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.

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.

GREEK CAPONATA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Pour the canned tomatoes into a 3 1/2-quart baking dish and spread to cover the bottom. In a large bowl combine the remaining ingredients (excluding the bread). Toss to coat. Pour the vegetables over the canned tomatoes in an even layer.
• Cover the baking dish with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and bake until the edges of the vegetables are golden, about 30 to 40 minutes.
• Serve alone as a side, or over toasted sourdough bread for a main dish.

BRIAMI OR BRIAM- AUTHENTIC GREEK ROASTED VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Preheat oven at 350 F (180 C)
• Cut potatoes and eggplant in about 2 inch pieces, the zucchini in 1/2 inch slices. The onion in quarters and if using peppers in slices.
• Pour all the vegetables in a large bowl. Add garlic, mint, parsley, oregano. Mix.
• Mix the tomato paste with a bit of water (1 tablespoon) and add to the vegetables.
• Add about the olive oil and mix well. We usually do it with our hands.
• Add salt to taste and pepper, and mix some more (I add very little salt and add more if needed when serving).
• Transfer the vegetables to a large shallow pan, it should be able to fit all the vegetables in one layer.
• Pour in a corner of the pan about 1/3 cup water and tilt the pan so that it spreads, but don't pour it over the vegetables.Pour more later if it seems like they are becoming dry.
• Cover with aluminum foil and roast for about an hour.
• After an hour check and see if the vegetables are cooked (you should be able to stick a fork in them easily).
• If they are cooked, remove the foil and roast for another 30-45 minutes until the potatoes start turning golden brown.
• Let it cool and serve with bread and feta cheese. You can also serve cold.

GIADA'S EVERYDAY CAPONATA

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large heavy skillet over medium heat.
• Add the celery and saute for about 2 minutes. Add the eggplant and saute for 2 minutes. Add the onions and saute for about 3 minutes. Add the red pepper and saute for about 5 minutes.
• Add the diced tomatoes and their juice, raisins and oregano. Simmer over medium-low heat for about 20 minutes. The mixture should thicken.
• Stir in the vinegar, sugar, capers, and the salt and pepper. Season with more salt and pepper to taste.
• Serve at room temperature, garnished with fresh basil leaves.

GRILLED CAPONATA

Steps:

• Heat your grill to high. Brush the eggplant, onion slices and tomatoes with olive oil and season each type of vegetable with salt and pepper, to taste.
• Grill the eggplant for 6 to 8 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through. Grill the onions for 3 to 4 minutes per side until golden brown and just cooked through. Grill the tomatoes for 2 minutes per side until charred and slightly soft. Remove to a cutting board and cut into quarters.
• Remove the vegetables from the grill to a cutting board and cut into 1/2-inch pieces. Transfer the vegetables to a medium bowl and add the olives, capers, raisins and pine nuts.
• Mix together the garlic, red pepper flakes, vinegar and honey in a small bowl and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Slowly drizzle in 1/4 cup of olive oil and whisk until emulsified.
• Pour the dressing over the vegetables, add the parsley and stir gently to combine. Let the salad sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes and up to 2 hours before serving.

GREEK CAPONATA RECIPE COURTESY GIADA DE LAURENTIIS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Pour the canned tomatoes into a 3 1/2-quart baking dish and spread to cover the bottom. In a large bowl combine the remaining ingredients (excluding the bread). Toss to coat. Pour the vegetables over the canned tomatoes in an even layer. Cover the baking dish with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and bake until the edges of the vegetables are golden, about 30 to 40 minutes. Serve alone as a side, or over toasted sourdough bread for a main dish.

GREEK CAPONATA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Pour the canned tomatoes into a 3 1/2-quart baking dish and spread to cover the bottom. In a large bowl combine the remaining ingredients (excluding the bread). Toss to coat. Pour the vegetables over the canned tomatoes in an even layer. Cover the baking dish with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and bake until the edges of the vegetables are golden, about 30 to 40 minutes.
• Serve alone as a side, or over toasted sourdough bread for a main dish.