Recipe: Caponata from Sicily
Caponata is the pinnacle of Sicilian cuisine. This sweet-and-sour stewed vegetable dish comes in a thousand-and-one variations, with the aubergine as the common denominator. It is taken to new heights by frying it at a high temperature first. The rich, full flavor of caponata is best appreciated the day after. We like to eat it at room temperature with a generous piece of toasted bread.
How to make caponata
1. Place the aubergine in a colander, sprinkle with salt and leave to drain for approx. 30 minutes. Rinse the aubergine and pat thoroughly dry with paper towels. Heat the oil in a heavy-bottomed pan to 175 °C. Fry the aubergine in batches until golden brown and cooked through.
2. Meanwhile, bring a large pan of water to the boil. Cut a cross into the rounded side of the tomatoes and immerse them in the boiling water for approx. 10 seconds. Remove the tomatoes from the pan with a slotted spoon and plunge them into cold running water. Remove the skins and cut into cubes of approx. 2 centimeters.
3. Heat the olive oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Sauté the red onion, anchovies, celery and chili flakes for approx. 5 minutes. Add the diced tomatoes and cook for another approx. 5 minutes. Add the capers, olives, sugar, red wine vinegar and passata (tomato sauce made from fresh, ripe tomatoes that are first cooked and then strained) and bring to the boil. Finally, add the aubergine. Reduce the heat and stew the vegetables with the lid on the pan for approx. 1 hour. Allow the caponata to cool completely and season with additional salt if desired.
4. Divide the caponata between 4 bowls and garnish with the mint and almonds. Divide the anchovies and hard-boiled eggs over the top and serve with the toasted bread.
Tip: just like shakshuka
Sicilians generally eat caponata as a starter, but it is easy to turn it into a main course. Make a delicious pasta dish with it, stew eggs in it as you would with shakshuka or stir the caponata through risotto. The possibilities are endless, so it may be a good idea to make a double batch right away.
Wine tip for caponata
Do you find it difficult to choose a wine to go with your dish? Always remember this rule: ‘what grows together, goes together.’ In other words: dishes from a particular region pair very well with wines from the same area. No wonder, then, that caponata and the typical island wine Nero d’Avola make a magical combination.
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