Eggplant Caponata

Published on by carol lou

I always make notes on all of my recipes, this one had a note “Excellent – December 2003”   Hard to believe it has been that many years that I have been making this recipe.  It is just as delicious now as it was fourteen years ago.  I always find it interesting when the recipes I make are the memories I note years later.

 

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Eggplant Caponata

Ingredients

  • 2 eggplants
  • 1/2 cup olive oil
  • 16 oz can diced Italian tomatoes
  • 1/2 cup chopped pitted green olives
  • 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 2 onions, minced
  • 3 stalks celery, diced
  • 3 tablespoons capers
  • 2 tablespoons fresh basil, minced
  • 3 tablespoons sugar
  • salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions

  1. Cut eggplant into 1" cubes.  Sprinkle with the 2 teaspoons of salt and let stand in colander for approximately two hours.  Squeeze gently after the two hours to remove excess moisture. Saute eggplant in olive oil until brown on all sides.  Remove from pan with a slotted spoon.  Brown chopped onions until soft, add tomatoes, celery and olives, cook slowly until the celery is tender.  Return eggplant to the pan add capers.  Heat vinegar, stir in sugar until it is dissolved.  Pour mixture over eggplant mixture, add garlic, basil, salt and pepper.  Cover and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Serve hot or cold.