You’ll love the combination of savory, sweet, and sour flavors in this creamy eggplant caponata with onions, tomato and olives! A great make-ahead appetizer to serve over crusty bread or use next to chicken or fish!
In Mediterranean cooking, there is no shortage of tasty eggplant recipes! Some favorites around here include eggplant rollatini; classic moussaka; and stuffed eggplant.
I’m excited to add one more tasty eggplant creation from Italy: Caponata!
You’ll love the loads of texture and flavor in this vegan eggplant salad. And because it tastes better the next day, it’s the perfect make-ahead appetizer to serve over crostini or toasted bread of your choice.
What is caponata?
Caponata Sicilian is one of Sicily’s essential dishes. Pronounced ka·puh·naa·tuh, it is a vegetarian eggplant salad–more like a relish, really–made of eggplant, onions, bell pepper, celery and tomatoes with briny olives and capers.
There are variations of this tasty eggplant salad. Most are spiked with vinegar. Some call for raisins, which I love and use in this caponata recipe.
For a kick of sweetness, many recipes call for brown sugar, but I use a bit of honey, which is sufficient given the addition of raisins.
If you have them, add some toasted pine nuts at the very end.
Ratatouille vs. Caponata
Some describe caponata as the Sicilian version of ratatouille.
The two may have something in common as both use diced summer vegetables cooked with a bit of tomato. But, to me, ratatouille is more of a saucy stew, and the veggies will vary depending on what you have on hand.
Caponata is more of a salad or an appetizer that is altogether savory, sweet, and sour, thanks to the use of briny olives, salty capers, sweet raisins, and a spike of vinegar.
It’s best served at room temperature topping some crusty bread. And it’s also great as a relish to elevate your roast lamb, chicken or fish such as pan-seared salmon or trout.
What you’ll need to make it?
The ingredients to make caponata are simple and readily available in most grocery stores. Together, they give this little vegetarian eggplant salad all sorts of beautiful texture and special flavor. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Eggplant: If you’re wondering what kind of eggplant to use for caponata, you can use globe eggplant that is readily available in most supermarkets all year round. 1 large eggplant will be sufficient here.
- More vegetables: 1 yellow onion chopped, 1 red bell pepper cored and chopped, 2 small celery stalks thinly sliced
- Tomatoes: I use 1 cup crushed canned tomatoes here which add a ton of umami with less work.
- Greek olives and capers: these both add a bit of that briny salty flavor that distinguishes caponata from ratatouille or any other eggplant dish really. about 1/4 cup pitted green olives and 2 tablespoons of capers.
- Sweet flavor makers: 1/4 cup raisins and 2 teaspoons of honey (you can do more honey if you like yours on the sweeter side).
- 1 bay leaf
- Crushed red pepper flakes: I use about 1/2 teaspoon for an extra kick)
- Vinegar and wine: I used 1/4 cup red wine vinegar and 1/4 cup dry white wine (any dry white wine you have will do)
- Fresh herbs for garnish: a little bit of parsley and fresh mint, if you have them (2 tablespoons each).
Typically, capontata starts with frying cubed eggplant in a bit of oil until browned. While I love fried eggplant, in this case, I found roasting the cubes to offer the same result. Plus roasting is less hands-on, so I can work on the rest of the ingredients while the eggplant is roasting.
Once the eggplant is fully roasted, it’s added to the pan with the rest of the ingredients which have been braising to create a tasty, sweet and sour base or sauce.
How to make caponata?
- Roast the eggplant. Cut the eggplant into 1-inch cubes and season with salt (I like to let my salted eggplant sit in a colander for a few minutes to sweat out any bitterness, but that is optional. If you do this, just be sure to pat the eggplant dry). Toss the eggplant with a generous amount of extra virgin olive oil and spread on a large sheet pan. Roast in 400 degrees F heated-oven for about 25 to 30 minutes or until fully cooked and tender.
- Cook the onions, bell peppers and celery in a large skillet with a bit of extra virgin olive oil until softened. Season with salt.
- Add the rest of the ingredients to make the sauce base. To the same skillet, add crushed tomatoes, capers, olives, raisins, honey, bay leaf and crushed pepper flakes. Stir in the vinegar and white wine. Stir to combine. Simmer on medium-low heat for 10 minutes.
- Stir in the eggplant. Since the eggplant is fully cooked, simply stir it in with the rest of the ingredients and allow it to cook for 2 to 3 minutes or so together, then finish with fresh parsley and mint.
Eggplant caponata is better the next day, but if you need to serve it on the same day, let it sit at room temperature for 1 hour before serving.
If you love this caponata, then our equally delicious Zaalouk is a must try. An eggplant dip with a Moroccan twist! Or try my Eggplant Bruschetta.
Storage
You can store caponata in the fridge in a tightly-closed mason jar for 5 days or so, or freeze it for later use. Bring it to room temperature before serving.
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Caponata Recipe
Equipment
- Sheet Pan
- Braising pan or large skillet
Ingredients
- 1 large eggplant 1 ¼ lb or so, cut into 1-inch cubes
- Kosher salt
- Extra virgin olive oil I used Private Reserve EVOO
- 1 yellow onion chopped
- 1 red bell pepper cored and chopped
- 2 small celery stalks thinly sliced
- Black pepper
- 1 cup crushed tomatoes
- 2 tbsp capers
- ¼ cup pitted green olives roughly chopped
- ¼ cup raisins
- 2 teaspoons honey more to your liking
- 1 bay leaf
- ¼ tsp to ½ tsp crushed red pepper flakes
- 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
- ¼ cup dry white wine
- 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
- 2 tbsp chopped fresh mint
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 400 degrees F.
- Season the eggplant cubes with salt (if you have the time, set it aside in a colander to sweat out its bitterness for about 20 or 30 minutes, while you prepare the remaining ingredients. Pat dry with paper towel).
- Place the seasoned eggplant cubes on a sheet pan, add a generous drizzle of extra virgin olive oil (about 3 tablespoons or so) and toss to coat. Roast the eggplant in the heated oven for 25 to 30 minutes or until browned.
- Heat 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil in a large skillet. Add the onions, bell pepper, and celery. Season with a pinch of kosher salt and black pepper. Cook for about 5 to 7 minutes, tossing regularly until softened.
- Add the tomatoes, capers, olives, raisins, honey, bay leaf and crushed pepper flakes. Pour in the vinegar and white wine. Stir to combine. Simmer on medium-low heat for 10 minutes.
- Stir in the roasted eggplant and cook for another 2 to 3 minutes in the sauce. Finish with fresh parsley and mint.
Video
Notes
- Cook’s Tip: Salting the eggplant and allowing it to sit for a few minutes helps it “sweat out” any bitterness and improves its spongy texture. a If you have the time, leave the salted eggplant in a colander for 20 minutes or so while you prepare the rest of the ingredients.
- For best flavor: Let the caponata sit at room temperature for 1 hour before serving, or store in the fridge overnight and serve cold or at room temperature. I like to serve it with toasted Italian bread such as ciabatta .
- If serving with toasted ciabatta: Slice the bread and brush each slice with a bit of extra virgin olive oil on both sides. Arrange on a sheet pan and toast in your heated oven for about 10 minutes until golden brown (I do this while the eggplant is roasting).
Amazing flavors. Loved it!
One the the best caponata recipes by far. Thought roasting wasn’t going to work……it did! No more trying eggplant. This recipe is a keeper!
Love it! I’m going to put this on a Turkish pide.
YUM!
This was highly acidic and just not nice. I’ve had caponata at a friend’s and it was the best thing I tasted, trying to make this myself has been a big let down. Leave out the bell pepper and white wine, and swap the red wine vinegar for balsamic to hopefully even up the flavour.
One the the best caponata recipes by far. Thought roasting wasn’t going to work……it did! No more frying eggplant. This is a keeper. Only change I did not use pepper
In my opinion it’s not fair to leave a review of 1/5 if you don’t follow the recipe and just swap the ingredients.
simple, delish. great app to bring to a party!
I made this for the first time after returning from Sicily in October. This recipe is excellent and better than some in Sicily. I ate it for days and shared with friends. With the remaining, I added to some freshly cooked orecchiette and that too was outstanding. Making again for family on Christmas Eve.
Wow! Love to hear that, Greg! Thank you!
Ok I’m embarrassed to admit I’ve never made this or never tried it until now! It’s absolutely amazing! Followed it exactly which I never do but it just seemed so right and boy is it delicious “even” on the first day! So I’m southern Italian and sicilian so my nana would scold me for waiting so long. This is my new Christmas tradition. Thank you!
Oh, wonderful to hear, Merry!!
I cooked caponata before and I fried the eggplant and it was amazing. Followed this recipe and roasted the eggplant on 200 degrees celsius but wasn’t cooked enough and I added it to the rest of ingredients but until the eggplant is cooked all the rest will turn into purée so I am not happy. Wasted such good ingredients… Sorry to say but very disappointed.
Appreciate the feedback, Kerry!
How much salt is used on the eggplant?
Hi, Eric. We don’t have an exact measurement for the salt here, as it can really depend on personal preference. You just needs a few good sprinkles. I would start with 1/2 teaspoon of kosher salt and add more if you feel it’s necessary.
can this recipe be canned in a hot water bath canner?
Hello! We don’t have experience with canning here at The Mediterranean Dish, so it’s hard to say. If you give it a try, We’d love to hear your feedback!
We were in Sicily this past May and made Caponata in a cooking class in Ortigia. It was so good, I grew globe eggplants this year and then came across your recipe. I used 3 globe eggplants each was a little less than 1 lb. I did take the the skin off and then followed your recipe. It turned out phenomenal, just a little tangy and the mint added was a nice touch. The only other thing I added after it cooled was some pignoli nuts on top.
I will make this again.
Should I have left on the next for added color and depth?
Made this last evening exactly as written and it is the best caponata recipe I’ve ever made/tasted!! Thank you for taking the time to develop it to absolute perfection. Can’t help myself, I’m eating it for breakfast!
Same!!!!
I have frozen it in jars and it tasted as good as the day I made it.
I’ve been making a variation of this for years. Use this as a topping for hotdogs or fried bologna sandwich.
This sounds so good, can it be
canned?
Possibly, Roberta, but canning is not a process I’m really familiar with.
I have frozen it in jars and it tasted as good as the day I made it.
I’ve always wanted to try this and was happily surprised at how basically easy it was to prepare. The savory combinations of the eggplant roasted and vegetables pan sautéed come together in a remarkable appetizer. Adding pignoli nuts and a mix of golden and purple raisins round out the savory/sweet mix. I also used balsamic vinegar in lieu of red wine vinegar. Toasting rounds of a French baguette brushed with a smidgen of EVOO is the classic way to enjoy this wonderful Sicilian treat. However adding it to a regular green salad or a one of spring mix or arugula is another possibility that really turns your salad course into something quite special.
So glad you enjoyed it, Aunt Lili!