• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Sip and Feast
  • Recipes
  • Subscribe
  • About me
  • Shop
  • Navigation Menu: Social Icons

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • About me
  • Shop
  • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » All Recipes » Appetizers » Eggplant Caponata With Raisins

    Eggplant Caponata With Raisins

    Published on Jun 18, 2019 by Jim · Updated on Jul 4, 2022 · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. · 37 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe

    Sicilian eggplant caponata is one of the best ways to utilize eggplant.  Caponata is a salty, sweet and sour appetizer, bursting with flavor.  It's perfect by itself, on top of toasted bread or crackers, or used as a topping for sandwiches.

    Eggplant caponata in black bowl on blue board.

    No matter how much we make, we never seem to have enough.

    My love for caponata happened after I left my house, moved to the city, and started making many dishes on my own. 

    I have made it many different ways and have come to rely on this version.  Down below I'll share a number of additions to this eggplant caponata.

    For this recipe, the eggplant is roasted rather than fried.  Frying it is great - it's the traditional way to do it, but too much olive oil is needed and too much of a mess is made.  

    Ingredients shown: capers, raisins, eggplant, olives, pignoli nuts, tomato paste, celery and onion.

    Eggplant caponata step-by-step instructions

    Each number corresponds to the numbered written steps below.

    1. Preheat oven to 425F and begin by cutting 2 pounds of eggplant into approximately 1" cubes.
    2. Place all the cut eggplant into a large glass bowl and toss with a ½ cup of olive oil, a tsp of kosher salt and a ½ tsp of black pepper.  Use enough oil to coat all the pieces.

    Eggplant caponata recipe process shot collage group number one.

    1. On a large baking sheet (line it with parchment paper to avoid sticking) spread out the eggplant. Keep the pieces from touching and if necessary use 2 sheet pans.  Place the eggplant on the middle oven rack and roast for 25-30 minutes.
    2. While the eggplant is roasting begin cutting 1 cup of celery into smallish pieces like shown.
    3. Cut 1 cup of onion into half-moon strips.  You can cut the onion and celery any way you want!  Some people like a chunkier caponata while others prefer a smoother one.
    4. Toast a ¼ cup of pignoli (pine) nuts in a separate pan over medium-low heat for 5 minutes or so.  Be careful, they burn easily.  When finished toasting, remove the nuts and set them aside.

    Recipe process shot collage group number two.

    1. In a large pan saute the onion and celery for a few minutes in a ¼ cup of olive oil over medium heat.  Again this is a preference/textural thing.  If you like crunchy vegetables in your caponata only saute them for a minute or so.
    2. Add in one 6-ounce can of tomato paste and cook for 3 minutes longer, spreading the paste all around the pan.
    3. After 25-30 minutes the eggplant will be nicely roasted as shown.  Use a fork and make sure they are soft on the inside and fully cooked.  If not, another 5 minutes in the oven is fine.
    4. To the pan add 1 cup of pitted good quality green olives, an ⅛ cup of rinsed capers, and a ¼ cup of raisins.  Also, add 2 Tbsp of sugar and a ¼ cup of red wine vinegar.  Cook for 5 minutes stirring occasionally to avoid sticking.

    Recipe process shot collage group number three.

    1. Add in the eggplant and pine nuts and cook for 3 more minutes to ensure the caponata is well mixed.  Be careful while mixing in the eggplant to avoid mashing it too much.  A gentle stir with a wooden spoon is all that's required.
    2. Finally, add a ¼ cup of chopped fresh parsley, give it one more stir, and a taste test.  Adjust salt, pepper, and sugar if necessary.  If satisfied, let it cool, then place it in a container and refrigerate.

    Pan of caponata with large wooden spoon.

    The flavors will meld together and it will be better the next day.  Of course, it can be eaten right away too!

     

    You will see Sicilian caponata sold in the Italian section of your supermarket. 

    It comes in jars that you keep refrigerated once open.  The jars are small, processed, and mostly not that good.

    Now you know how to make a much better one!  And, you can do it in much larger quantities for way cheaper!

    Substitutions and additions

    • Zucchini - Add some zucchini to this caponata for a nice twist.   Pan roast 2 cups of the same size pieces as the eggplant for the last 20 minutes of cooking.
    • Peppers - Use 2 large bell peppers, cut up into bite-size chunks for added texture and flavor.
    • Carrots - Roast 1 cup of carrots with the eggplant for added flavor or just sear them in the pan with the onions and celery to introduce a crunchy texture.
    • Anchovies - It wouldn't be Sicilian cooking without talking about this ingredient.  Saute 3-4 chopped anchovies until they melt with the celery and onion.
    • Herbs - Mint and basil are excellent additions!
    • Make a full meal - Chicken agrodolce is basically chicken with eggplant caponata plus/minus a few ingredients.  

    Bowl of caponata on blue table.

    Top tips

    • Cooking process - Before roasting you can salt the eggplant pieces for 30 minutes.  The salt will release moisture from the eggplants and allow them to cook quicker in the oven.  Using a paper towel, pat dry the eggplants with a wiping action to remove some of the salt before roasting.  I rarely salt the eggplants prior to roasting, but want to point out the option.
    • Texture - The texture of the caponata is really a personal preference.  If you like it on the softer side, saute the veggies a little bit longer and/or cut them smaller.  Conversely, just cook them for a few minutes if you want the celery and onion crunch.
    • Buying eggplant - Italian eggplants will be smaller than a large American eggplant.  They look the same, but you will need about 4-5 of them versus 1-2 of the latter.  I have come across Sicilian eggplants a couple of times in the supermarkets.  They are round, a mix of purple and white, and delicious.  If you can find them by all means use them!

    Large pan and small black bowl of caponata on blue table.

    More Italian appetizers and spreads

    • Peperonata - Bell peppers, onions, plum tomatoes, and garlic are stewed together and tossed with fresh basil.
    • Pickled eggplant - Eggplant strips pickled with cherry peppers, parsley, and garlic, then topped with extra virgin olive oil.
    • Cherry pepper spread - With red bell peppers, hot cherry peppers, cherry tomatoes, loads of garlic, and fresh basil.
    • Sweet and sour zucchini - Cold zucchini appetizer with garlic and sweet and sour flavors.
    • Roasted eggplant with tomato sauce - Eggplant with sauce, fresh basil and mint, and freshly grated ricotta salata.
    • Eggplant meatballs - With Pecorino, basil, garlic, and breadcrumbs.
    Caponata in pan on white granite countertop.

    Eggplant Caponata with Raisins

    5 from 8 votes
    Prep Time: 10 mins
    Cook Time: 40 mins
    Total Time: 50 mins
    Servings: 6
    Print Pin Rate
    Author: James

    Ingredients

    • 2 pounds eggplant
    • 1 cup celery
    • 1 cup red onion
    • 1 cup pitted green olives
    • ¼ cup pignoli nuts
    • ¼ cup parsley
    • ⅛ cup capers
    • ¼ cup raisins
    • 1 6 ounce can tomato paste
    • ¾ cup olive oil
    • ¼ cup red wine vinegar
    • 2 Tbsp sugar
    • 1 tsp kosher salt
    • ½ tsp black pepper

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 425f and set rack to middle. Cut eggplant into 1" squares and mix well with a ½ cup olive oil, 1 tsp kosher salt and a ½ tsp pepper. Place eggplant on parchment paper lined baking sheet, making sure to not overcrowd the pieces. Roast in oven for 25-30 minutes until fully cooked through and soft in the middle.
    • Toast pignoli nuts in a dry pan over medium-low heat for approximately 5 minutes being careful not to burn. When toasted set aside.
    • Saute 1 cup of chopped celery and 1 cup of red onion in a ¼ cup of olive oil for 2-3 minutes over medium heat. Add in 1 6 ounce can of tomato paste and continue to cook for 3 more minutes.
    • To the pan add the 1 cup of pitted green olives, ⅛ cup rinsed capers, ¼ cup raisins, 2 Tbsp sugar, toasted pine nuts, and ¼ cup of red wine vinegar. Cook for 5 minutes allowing the vinegar and sugar to cook through and incorporate.
    • Add the roasted eggplant to the pan and gently mix it all together being careful to not crush the eggplant. Taste test and make any last minute adjustments to salt, pepper or sugar. The last step is to add in the ¼ cup of fresh parsley and to plate. Enjoy now or allow the flavors to better blend overnight in the refrigerator.

    Notes

    • Caponata tastes better the next day.  Store it in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
    • Salt was kept to a minimum.  The inherent saltiness of the olives and capers should be kept in mind.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 366kcal | Carbohydrates: 26.6g | Protein: 4.3g | Fat: 29.8g | Saturated Fat: 3.9g | Sodium: 564mg | Potassium: 807mg | Fiber: 7.8g | Sugar: 16.9g | Calcium: 30mg | Iron: 2mg
    Did you make this recipe? Mention @sipandfeast or tag #sipandfeast
    « Rigatoni With Cauliflower And Bacon
    Chicken Valdostana Recipe »
    • Share
    • Yummly

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Lori B.

      January 21, 2020 at 2:57 pm

      OMG so delish !
      I omitted pine nuts, but added anchovies & chopped red bell pepper ❤️

      Reply
      • Jim

        January 22, 2020 at 8:52 am

        That sounds nice too! Love anchovies. I'm glad you enjoyed it!

        Reply
    2. D.W

      June 04, 2020 at 7:30 pm

      I Started making this dish for dinner at 11:00am this morning. The fragrances from this recipe were intoxicating and making my mouth water. I wanted to put it in the refrigerator for tonight but found myself consuming a good portion of it before I forced myself to put it away. Thanks so much for this delicious recipe!

      Reply
      • Jim

        June 04, 2020 at 11:18 pm

        I am glad you enjoyed it! It's hard to put it away, but I promise if you do the flavors are even the better the next day. Thanks for the comment!

        Reply
    3. George

      August 09, 2020 at 2:53 pm

      Absolutely fantastic this will be a standard in my fridge not just with eggplant but I got to try all of the vegetable suggestions pennies to make compared to buying thank you. george

      Reply
      • Jim

        August 09, 2020 at 7:33 pm

        Hi George. It's great to hear that you liked the caponata! Appreciate the comment.

        Reply
    4. Barbara

      September 10, 2020 at 1:31 pm

      I had no idea what eggplant caponata was. But had an eggplant I needed to use before it got bad. Made this with a few adjustments, due to what I had on hand, and it was delicious. I used dried cranberries instead of raisins, and one half of a purple onion. Only a small amount left for today. Can’t imagine the flavor improving overnight but we’ll see.

      Reply
      • Jim

        September 12, 2020 at 1:15 pm

        Hi Barbara! Glad you enjoyed it! I think the flavor develops more if you can hold off and not eat it all the same day. That's always a tough task for us to do though!

        Reply
    5. Barbara Wander

      April 30, 2021 at 1:45 pm

      5 stars
      This caponata turned out even better than the one they make at Cafe Fiorello in NYC. I LOVE IT and sometimes just eat it as a snack. No bread or crackers though, I've given up white carbs. AND I use Splenda in place of sugar in this recipe.

      Reply
      • Jim

        May 03, 2021 at 9:16 pm

        Thank you so much! I often eat it by itself too. I'm glad it works well with the Splenda.

        Reply
      • Pat

        January 11, 2023 at 6:20 pm

        Me too! It’s low carb that way! Yummy!

        Reply
    6. annamae

      July 18, 2021 at 10:47 am

      5 stars
      quality and tradition..thank you

      Reply
      • Jim

        July 19, 2021 at 11:33 am

        Thanks very much!

        Reply
    7. Denise

      February 14, 2022 at 12:00 pm

      5 stars
      I am always searching for different ways to cook eggplant and this one is a keeper! I tested the finished eggplant immediately after cooking it and am reserving rest for tomorrow. I can't wait for tomorrow! Bringing some to my mother too as she is getting older and doesn't really cook anymore but loves eggplant. Thank you and please keep those great recipes coming!!!!

      Reply
      • Jim

        February 15, 2022 at 1:25 pm

        Hi Denise. I hope it was a hit with your mother too. It is always much better the next day!

        Reply
    8. Catherine

      April 22, 2022 at 4:12 pm

      5 stars
      Sooooo good! Your instructions are very helpful. So many times I’m left wondering if I’m following the instructions correctly. Can’t wait to make other recipes.

      Reply
      • Jim

        April 24, 2022 at 10:37 am

        Thank you, Catherine! I'm happy you find the instructions to be helpful!

        Reply
    9. Evie

      April 28, 2022 at 8:42 pm

      5 stars
      Honestly one of the best things I've made. I had a friend over and she was as amazed as I was how good it was. Will be making for mothers day next weekend. Thank you for sharing this recipe.

      Reply
      • Jim

        April 29, 2022 at 8:29 am

        Hi, Evie. I'm so happy you liked the caponata recipe and thanks for letting me know!

        Reply
    10. Judi Galloway

      May 12, 2022 at 9:00 am

      Question: would I be making a huge mistake if I left the tomatoes or tomato paste out? I have seen pictures of this dish that didn’t look so “tomatoey”. Wanted to ask the experts before I messed up a beautiful dish. Thank you!

      Reply
      • Jim

        May 13, 2022 at 8:23 am

        Hi Judi, you can cut the tomato paste in half or omit it but this particular recipe hasn't been tested without tomato paste so I can't say for certain how it will turn out. Although I'm pretty sure it will still taste good!

        Reply
    11. Cindy

      June 01, 2022 at 9:29 am

      5 stars
      This the 2ond time for your delicious recipe for caponata.i am sure it won’t be the last double recipe today for appetizer for a crowd.
      Thank you for sharing 😋

      Reply
      • Jim

        June 01, 2022 at 11:24 am

        Thank you, Cindy! I'm so happy you enjoyed the caponata!

        Reply
    12. Jeff Mineno

      August 08, 2022 at 8:04 am

      5 stars
      Great recipe!!! Love the way you cook!!! Im always starving after watching your videos!!!

      Reply
      • Jim

        August 08, 2022 at 10:40 am

        Thank you, Jeff! I appreciate you watching the videos and so happy you liked the recipe!

        Reply
    13. Nonnie

      August 19, 2022 at 4:07 pm

      I love eggplant and I am going to make this something I’ve always wanted to try. I will follow the recipe exactly. I will however peel my eggplant, it’s an optional thing I just do not care for the tough eggplant skin. I’d definitely recommend you solve the eggplant first, not only does it remove extra moisture, And improves the texture of the eggplant and makes it creamier

      Reply
      • Jim

        August 19, 2022 at 8:10 pm

        Hi Nonnie, thanks for the comment and hope you enjoy it!

        Reply
    14. Fran

      September 09, 2022 at 7:41 am

      Can I use green olives with pimento?

      Reply
      • Jim

        September 09, 2022 at 9:19 am

        Hi Fran, yes you can.

        Reply
    15. Barry

      October 26, 2022 at 9:05 am

      Can I process and can this? I would like to give this as gifts.

      Reply
      • Jim

        October 26, 2022 at 9:35 am

        Hi Barry, yes you can definitely can it. This recipe doesn't provide the steps for canning so I'd recommend following proper canning protocol.

        Reply
    16. Eylem

      November 19, 2022 at 11:01 am

      Hello, Can I freeze this?

      Reply
      • Jim

        November 19, 2022 at 3:11 pm

        Hi there, yes, you can freeze this.

        Reply
    17. Francesca Stirpe

      December 23, 2022 at 4:41 am

      5 stars
      What a simple delicious, authentic recipe… I can’t wait to make this again

      Reply
      • Jim

        December 23, 2022 at 12:51 pm

        Hi Francesca, so happy you liked the caponata and really appreciate the comment!

        Reply
    18. Ken Grant

      January 29, 2023 at 7:04 pm

      This rates a WOW! My son planned to take his girlfriend out to dinner, but after a taste of this (and your Chicken Piccata) he decided to stay home. His girlfriend even gave me a thank-you hug.

      Reply
      • Jim

        January 30, 2023 at 10:21 am

        Hi Ken, so happy you all enjoyed this and the piccata! Thanks for the comment.

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Profile pic.

    About Jim

    Welcome! I'm Jim and I'm here to help you make awesome Italian food that you would normally enjoy at some of your favorite New York style Italian restaurants. While my recipes are typically Italian, you'll find some other great ones as well. Take a look around, and get cooking!

    Learn more about me →

    Reader's Favorites

    • Fettuccine with Cherry Tomato Butter Sauce
    • Authentic Italian Meatballs And Sunday Sauce Recipe
    • Short Rib Ragu with Pappardelle
    • Mushroom Brandy Cream Sauce Spaghetti
    • Baked Artichoke Hearts with Seasoned Breadcrumbs
    • Chicken Scarpariello
    • Pasta alla Norcina
    • Grandma Pizza

    Featured On

    Sip and Feast featured in publications sidebar.

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • About me
    • Privacy Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2022 Sip and Feast

    8204 shares