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Ingredients
- Caponata with Mini-Eggplants - Adapted from Saveur
- 1 cup olive oil
- 1 large eggplant, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 1 large yellow onion, chopped
- 1 rib celery, chopped
- salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 3 tablespoons tomato paste, thinned with 1/4 cup water
- 1 cup crushed canned tomatoes
- 6 oz. green olives, pitted and roughly chopped
- 1/2 cup white wine vinegar
- 1/2 cup currants or raisins
- 1/4 cup salt-packed capers, rinsed and drained
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- 2 tablespoons finely grated unsweetened chocolate
- 1/2 cup finely shredded basil
- 2 to 3 tablespoons pine nuts
- 6 to 8 mini-eggplants, optional
- shredded Parmesan cheese for serving, optional
View Full Recipe at Pots and Pins
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%20%20I%20found%20mini-eggplants%20at%20the%20Indian%20market%20by%20my%20house,%20and%20they%20call%20them%20Indian%20eggplants...they%20are%20also%20called%20Chinese%20eggplants...doesn't%20matter%20what%20you%20call%20them,%20they%20are%20different%20from%20their%20larger%20cousins.%20%20They%20are%20sweet%20so%20they%20don't%20require%20any%20%22salting%22%20before%20using%20them.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EWhile%20you%20make%20the%20caponata,%20the%20mini-eggplants%20get%20a%20quick%20warming%20in%20the%20oven.%20%20When%20they%20are%20fried,%20they%20become%20crispy%20on%20top%20and%20creamy%20in%20the%20center%20-%20the%20perfect%20accompaniment%20for%20caponata...salty,%20sweet,%20tart,%20crispy,%20creamy...what%20more%20could%20you%20want?!?%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EThis%20may%20look%20like%20a%20complicated%20recipe%20and%20it%20does%20have%20a%20lot%20of%20different%20ingredients,%20but%20most%20of%20them%20are%20probably%20things%20you%20already%20have%20in%20your%20pantry.%20%20And%20really,%20it's%20easy,%20if%20you%20don't%20want%20to%20fry%20up%20little%20eggplants%20to%20serve%20caponata%20on,%20serve%20it%20on%20a%20good%20crusty%20bread%20or%20with%20grilled%20chicken%20or%20fish...dig%20out%20a%20Bocelli%20or%20Pavarotti%20CD%20and%20get%20in%20touch%20with%20your%20inner%20Italian...it%20will%20do%20you%20a%20world%20of%20good.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EHeat%20oil%20in%20a%20large%20skillet%20over%20medium-high%20heat.%20%20Working%20in%20batches,%20add%20eggplant%20and%20fry,%20tossing%20occasionally,%20until%20browned,%203%20to%204%20minutes.%20%20Using%20a%20slotted%20spoon,%20transfer%20eggplant%20to%20a%20large%20bowl;%20set%20aside.%20%20Pour%20off%20all%20but%201/4%20cup%20of%20oil.%20%20Return%20skillet%20to%20heat,%20add%20onions%20and%20celery,%20and%20season%20with%20salt%20and%20pepper;%20cook,%20stirring%20often,%20until%20beginning%20to%20brown,%2010%20minutes.%20%20Reduce%20heat%20to%20medium,%20add%20tomato%20paste%20and%20cook,%20stirring,%20until%20caramelized%20and%20almost%20evaporated,%201-2%20minutes.%20%20Add%20crushed%20tomatoes%20and%20continue%20cooking%20for%2010%20minutes.%20%20Stir%20in%20olives,%20vinegar,%20currants%20or%20raisins,%20capers,%20sugar,%20and%20chocolate,%20and%20cook,%20stirring%20occasionally,%20until%20thickened,%20about%2015%20minutes.%20%20Transfer%20to%20bowl%20with%20eggplant,%20then%20add%20in%20basil%20and%20pine%20nuts%20and%20mix%20together.%20%20Season%20with%20salt%20and%20pepper%20to%20taste%20and%20let%20cool%20to%20room%20temperature%20before%20serving.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EWhile%20caponata%20is%20cooking,%20slice%20mini-eggplants%20in%20half%20lengthwise.%20%20Place%20cut%20side%20up%20on%20a%20rimmed%20baking%20sheet%20and%20drizzle%20olive%20oil%20over%20tops.%20%20Bake%20in%20350%20degree%20oven%20for%2015%20minutes.%20%20Remove%20and%20set%20aside.%20%20Just%20before%20serving,%20heat%20a%20few%20tablespoons%20of%20olive%20oil%20in%20a%20large%20skillet%20and%20place%20eggplants%20cut%20side%20down.%20%20Fry%20until%20lightly%20browned%20and%20crispy,%20about%202%20to%203%20minutes.%20%20Remove.%20%20Top%20eggplants%20with%20a%20heaping%20teaspoon%20or%20two%20of%20caponata,%20sprinkle%20Parmesan%20cheese%20on%20top%20and%20serve.%20%20Makes%2012%20appetizers.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3ECaponata%20recipe%20makes%20about%205%20cups,%20enough%20to%20serve%206%20to%208%20people%20if%20using%20as%20a%20side%20dish.%20%20You%20will%20have%20plenty%20left%20over%20after%20making%20appetizers%20to%20use%20the%20next%20day,%20or%20to%20give%20as%20gifts...just%20make%20sure%20whoever%20you%20give%20it%20to%20is%20worthy!!%3C/p%3E){kind=link}