CAPONATA AGRIGENTINA - sweet and sour Sicilian appetizer

Instructions

PURGING EGGPLANTS AND CAPERS

1. First of all, soak the capers 2 hours at least in a bowl filled with water to discard the salt, replacing the water a couple of times.
2. If you decide to use capers in vinegar, just avoid this last step.
3. After that, dice the eggplants into cubes about 1.5 inches per side, then pour the pieces into a colander seasoning them with 2 tbsp of coarse salt.
4. Now place the strainer into a bowl or directly into the sink and let the salt purge the dark liquid of the eggplants for at least 1 hour up to 3 hours.

ONIONS SOFFRITTO

1. Peel and reduce a half red onion into slices about ½ inches thick, then sauté them over medium heat along with 2 tbsp of olive oil and 1 pinch of salt until tender and translucent.
2. At this point, add the tomatoes puree and cook 15 minutes more.
3. Finally, turn off the heat and put the saucepan aside.

ITALIAN SWEET PEPPERS (PEPERONI ARRAMASCATI)

1. Now, rinse the Italian Sweet Peppers peppers, then discard the stems and the seeds, then reduce the vegetables into pieces as big as the eggplants, and add it into the Soffritto.
2. Cook until the vegetables are done, but still in shape.
3. If needed, add a few tbsp of hot water.

FRIED EGGPLANTS AND BOILED CELERY

1. Once properly purged, rinse the eggplants pieces under running water and brush away any trace of salt.
2. Then, dry the eggplants accurately with a kitchen towel pressing gently.
3. At this point, pour 1.5 cups of olive oil into a saucepan and heat until the oil reaches 335° F (170° C).
4. Then, fry the eggplants a little at a time until golden.
5. Raise the vegetable cubes and dry over paper towels.
6. After that, rinse the celery stick and cut it into pieces 1 inch long.
7. Then, cook the celery into boiling water 4 minutes.
8. Finally, raise the pieces and dry over kitchen towels.

CAPONATA “AGRODOLCE”

1. Now, crush the olives into big pieces with your hands and pour them into the onions and tomato soffritto along with the fried eggplants, the boiled celery, the capers, and the roughly chopped basil leaves.
2. After that, place the saucepan over the heat. Eventually, add the vinegar and the sugar, raise the flame, and sauté 10 minutes more.
3. Finally, add 1 tbsp of toasted pine nuts, and optionally the raisin, then cook 3 minutes more.

REST AND SERVE

1. Immediately after cooking, the Caponata is not ready to serve; it’s need of 1 night into the fridge to melt the flavors together.
2. Before serving, let the Caponata rest 30 mins at room temperature, then pair with bruschettas, grilled meats or fish.