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Garden Caponata

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Course: Side Dish

Ingredients
  

  • 14 oz eggplant (about 2 medium), stemmed, peeled and diced
  • 6 tbsp olive oil
  • 1/2 tsp kosher salt
  • 1 small yellow or white onion, chopped
  • 1 medium red bell pepper, stemmed, cored and chopped
  • 2 small celery ribs, chopped
  • 7 oz cherry tomatoes, halved (about 1 1/2 cups)
  • 1/4 cup chopped raisins
  • 1/4 cup chopped pitted green olives
  • 2 tbsp caper, drained and chopped
  • 1 tbsp honey
  • 1/4 cup dry white wine
  • 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
  • 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes

Method
 

  1. Preheat your oven to 375°F. In a bowl, toss the diced eggplant with 3 tablespoons of the olive oil and the salt until every piece is well coated. Spread the eggplant in a single layer on a large, lipped baking sheet. Roast for about 25 minutes, or until it's a beautiful golden brown and a bit soft. Give it a stir halfway through.
  2. While the eggplant roasts, set a very large saucepan over medium heat and add the remaining 3 tablespoons of olive oil. Add the onion, bell pepper, and celery, and cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they’re nice and soft.
  3. Stir in the tomatoes, raisins, olives, capers, honey, white wine, red wine vinegar, and red pepper flakes. Bring the mixture to a bubble, then reduce the heat to low. Continue to cook, stirring often, for about 10 minutes until the vegetables begin to break down into a rustic, sauce-like consistency.
  4. Stir the roasted eggplant pieces into the saucepan. Simmer slowly for about 3 minutes, stirring frequently to prevent scorching, until the caponata is quite thick.
  5. Turn off the heat and let the pan rest for a minute or two. Transfer the caponata to jars or containers, leaving a little space at the top. Let it cool at room temperature for up to 30 minutes, then refrigerate or freeze. It only gets better as the flavors meld.