Recipe: Caponata from Sicily
Caponata is the highlight of Sicilian cuisine. This sweet-and-sour stewed vegetable dish comes in a thousand and one variations, with the eggplant as the common denominator. It is elevated to great heights by first frying it at a high temperature. The rich and full flavor of caponata comes into its own best the day after. We like to eat it at room temperature with a generous piece of toasted bread on the side.
How to make caponata
1. Spread the eggplant out in a colander, sprinkle with the salt and leave to drain for about 30 minutes. Rinse the eggplant and pat thoroughly dry with paper towels. Heat the oil in a heavy-bottomed pan to 175 °C. Fry the eggplant in batches until golden brown and cooked through.
2. Meanwhile, bring a large pan of water to the boil. Score the tomatoes crosswise on the rounded side and immerse them in the boiling water for about 10 seconds. Remove the tomatoes from the pan with a slotted spoon and refresh under cold running water. Remove the skins and cut into cubes of about 2 centimeters.
3. Heat the olive oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Sauté the red onion, anchovies, celery and chili flakes for about 5 minutes. Add the diced tomatoes and cook everything for another 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 eggplant. Turn the heat down low and stew the vegetables with the lid on the pan for about 1 hour. Allow the caponata to cool completely and season with additional salt if necessary.
4. Divide the caponata among 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 it into a delicious pasta dish, stew eggs in it as you would with shakshuka or stir the caponata through risotto. The possibilities are endless, so it might 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? Then 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 caponata and the typical island wine Nero d’Avola make a magical combination.
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