Eggplant Caponata

Silky, sweet, and sour, this eggplant caponata recipe is a delicious summer appetizer. Serve it on crostini with lots of fresh basil for garnish!

Eggplant caponata on crostini

These days, our neighborhood farmers market is basically like a caponata cooking kit. Mounds of eggplants, tomatoes, and multicolored peppers fill every stall. I’m pretty pleased about it, because this Sicilian vegetable stew is one of my favorite late summer dishes. It’s tangy, briny, and lightly sweet, with a rich, silky texture that’s absolutely irresistible.

I first fell in love with caponata years ago on a trip to Italy. Jack and I ordered it as an appetizer with crusty bread and a glass of white wine almost everywhere we went. When we got home, of course I had to learn how to make my own version. This caponata recipe has been a fixture in our kitchen ever since. I hope you love it as much as we do!

Caponata recipe ingredients

Caponata Recipe Ingredients

Here’s what you’ll need to make this eggplant caponata recipe:

  • Eggplant, of course! Traditional caponata recipes start with fried eggplant, but for a lighter, hands-off shortcut, I roast it instead.
  • Celery, onion, and garlic – They add savory flavor.
  • Red bell peppers – A classic caponata ingredient!
  • Tomatoes – They create a light sauce for the other veggies.
  • Tomato paste – It thickens the fresh tomato sauce.
  • Capers – For briny flavor. Some caponata recipes call for both green olives and capers, but I find that just capers do the trick. Plus, I always have a jar in my fridge!
  • Sherry vinegar – In a pinch, red wine vinegar will work here too.
  • Cane sugar and golden raisins – For sweetness. Many eggplant caponatas are only sweetened with sugar, but I love the complexity that the raisins add to this recipe.
  • Extra-virgin olive oil – For richness.
  • Fresh parsley and basil – For an aromatic finishing touch.
  • And salt and pepper – To make all the flavors pop!

Find the complete recipe with measurements below.

Mixture of sautéed tomatoes and red peppers in skillet with wooden spoon

The first step to making this recipe is roasting the eggplant.

While it’s in the oven, place the golden raisins in a small bowl with the vinegar and capers. They’ll plump up nicely in the vinegar. By the time you add them to the caponata, they’ll be soft, juicy, and full of the vinegar’s tang.

Then, sauté the aromatic veggies and cook the saucy tomato and pepper mixture. Tip: make sure to sauté the vegetables until they soften fully. This caponata recipe is best when all the veggies are tender!

Mixing roasted eggplant and capers into tomato sauce in skillet

Add the roasted eggplant, plumped raisins, vinegar, and capers to the tomato and pepper sauce. Cook for another 5 minutes to allow the eggplant to soak up the sauce’s flavors.

Finally, stir in the parsley and season to taste. Garnish with fresh basil before serving!

Bowl of eggplant caponata with spoon

How to Serve Eggplant Caponata

Though you certainly could serve eggplant caponata warm as a side dish, I like it best chilled or at room temperature. Serve it as an appetizer with crostini, or add it to a mezze platter or cheese board at a late summer gathering. It keeps well in the fridge for up to 5 days. I recommend serving it on day 2 or 3, after the flavors have had a chance to meld.

If you have leftover caponata, here are a few fun ways to use it up:

  • Toss it with pasta for a speedy weeknight meal.
  • Serve it over polenta with toasted pine nuts for crunch.
  • Pile it onto toast and top it with a poached or soft-boiled egg.
  • Slather it onto a sandwich with arugula and fresh mozzarella cheese.

How do you like to serve caponata? Let me know in the comments!

Caponata recipe

More Favorite Eggplant Recipes

If you love this caponata recipe, try one of these delicious eggplant recipes next:

Eggplant Caponata

rate this recipe:
5 from 14 votes
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Serves 6 to 8
This eggplant caponata recipe is a delicious summer appetizer or side dish! My take on the sweet and sour Sicilian stew, it's fantastic chilled or at room temperature. We love it on crostini with fresh basil for garnish.

Ingredients

  • 1 recipe Roasted Eggplant
  • 3 tablespoons golden raisins
  • 3 tablespoons sherry vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons capers
  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • ½ medium yellow onion, chopped
  • 1 celery stalk, diced
  • 1 red bell pepper, stemmed, seeded, and diced
  • ½ teaspoon sea salt
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 3 garlic cloves, grated
  • 1 pound tomatoes, about 4 medium, cored and diced
  • ½ teaspoon cane sugar
  • ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • Fresh basil leaves, for garnish
  • Crostini, for serving

Instructions

  • Roast the eggplant according to this recipe.
  • In a small bowl, combine the golden raisins, vinegar, and capers. Set aside for the raisins to soften while you prepare the caponata.
  • Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and celery and cook for 8 minutes, or until the vegetables have softened. Add the red pepper and salt. Cook until tender, about 8 minutes.
  • Add the tomato paste, garlic, tomatoes, and sugar, and cook, stirring often, for about 8 minutes, or until the tomatoes have cooked down and become saucy.
  • Add the roasted eggplant, raisins, vinegar, capers, and several grinds of pepper, and cook, stirring, for 5 more minutes. Stir in the parsley and season to taste.
  • Allow the caponata to cool to room temperature. We like it best on days 2 and 3, after the flavors have had a chance to meld. Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
  • When ready to serve, garnish the caponata with fresh basil. Serve with crostini.

32 comments

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Rate this recipe (after making it)




  1. Nancy Paulides
    09.12.2023

    5 stars
    Can I freeze?

  2. Regina Bishop
    08.29.2023

    5 stars
    Hello God bless you
    I just made the eggplant oh my God I made it a little different used the skillet for everything even the eggplant but it was so fantastic I can’t believe how great it was I’m definitely going to use your recipes and with God’s help amen I made garden fresh tomatoes crushed and then I made some tomato paste fresh with garlic olive oil and a pinch of Himalayan I also added both types of olives voila

  3. Frank
    08.20.2023

    Before my wife was diagnosed with celiac, I put caponata on large pasta shells and baked it with a little extra sauce and cheese. I don’t mind being a gluten free house, but seeing this recipe makes me long for the old days.

    • VSM
      08.21.2023

      Frank, maybe try Jovial or Cappello’s brand gluten-free pastas!

  4. VSM
    08.18.2023

    5 stars
    YUM! I have lots of fresh tomatoes and eggplant in the garden, so I chose this recipe to combine both. I have to admit that it was difficult to keep from eating all the roasted eggplant before adding it to the other ingredients…but I succeeded, and it was delicious! We liked to eat it with tortillas chips, as an alternative to the bread.. We also can’t wait to use it as a sauce with meats!

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      08.22.2023

      I’m so glad you loved it!

  5. Christine Whittington
    08.15.2023

    5 stars
    This is an amazing recipe! I was worried about two things: 1/2″ seemed to be a bit small to dice the eggplant and I thought they over-roasted a bit. And my golden raisins were pretty chewy–they had been in my cupboard for awhile. But it turned out to be absolutely wonderful. In fact, one of the friends we had over for wine-and-appetizers admitted that she photographed the recipe she saw on my kitchen table! I served it with the crostini, as recommended.

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      08.16.2023

      Hi Christine, I’m so glad it was a hit!

  6. Amalia
    06.29.2023

    5 stars
    What at amazing bomb of flavors and texture. I hope I did it properly, Im not Italian. I didnt have raisins, I used dry currants (the acidity really worked). I added a bit more sugar. I also added Calabrian peppers to give it a kick. I used fig vinegar found at a local shopping place. I also used Italian eggplants. It was exquisite. Not sure if the eggplant should be a bit chewy, mine was, and I really love that fact. The added heat was amazing, nothing crazy just to give a bit of interest to the palate.

    • Phoebe Moore (L&L Recipe Developer)
      06.30.2023

      Hi Amalia, Thanks so much for sharing your twist! It sounds delicious, and I’m so glad you loved the caponata.

    • Joan
      08.05.2023

      My grandparents came over on the boat from Sicily and had a vegetable farm. My grandmother used to make caponata and jar it for the winter. It was superb, especially with crusty bread. I know she didn’t use raisins and her version was nice and tangy. Hope to see how this stacks up. I apologize for a review “pre-trial”.

  7. Marysa
    06.29.2023

    I don’t know if I have ever had caponata before. This sounds delicious! Great summertime appetizer!

    • Phoebe Moore (L&L Recipe Developer)
      06.30.2023

      Hi Marysa, It’s so delicious! Definitely worth trying this summer.

    • Emily
      11.23.2023

      5 stars
      Phenomenal flavours and texture, wow! I didn’t know where I was or what I was doing as I went on a trip around Sicily as I devoured a full serve 😉 what a real divine treat, even just on its own, can only imagine how infused the flavours would be come day 2 or 3 – it would marry beautifully on crispy golden crostini, I thank you for sharing such a beautiful recipe, the only alteration I made was sherry vinegar subd for red wine vinegar, just as good, oh and a few extra garlic (always!) a true flavour explosion all round and cannot wait to share at the next shared table this summer xx

      • Jeanine Donofrio
        11.23.2023

        I’m so glad you loved it!

  8. Mariah
    03.30.2023

    5 stars
    I alterted this recipe because of allergy and to things available on hand

    Sherry vinegar to Balsamic Vinegar
    (Allergic due to where it is processed) Capers to Dill Pickles
    Fresh Parsley to Dried Parsley Flakes

    Ended up tasting great served on top of chickpea pasta! I can only imagine how it would have turned out using original ingredients

    • Phoebe Moore (L&L Recipe Developer)
      03.31.2023

      Hi Mariah, I’m so glad you enjoyed the caponata!

  9. Julia
    01.24.2023

    5 stars
    This was SO delicious! I loved the mixture of tomatoes, bell pepper and eggplant with the raisins and capers. Haven’t cooked much with capers but will be from now on! I used balsamic vinegar instead of sherry vinegar since that’s all I had!

    • Phoebe Moore (L&L Recipe Developer)
      01.26.2023

      I’m so glad you loved the caponata!

  10. Jerry Abel
    11.10.2022

    I really love your recipes. My problem is that I cannot email your recipes. Could you offer that option please?

    • Phoebe Moore (L&L Recipe Developer)
      11.11.2022

      Hi Jerry, Thanks for your feedback! That would be a great feature to add to the site.

  11. Julia Best
    09.15.2022

    5 stars
    Delicious! Made it with rice and loved all the flavours 😍

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      09.21.2022

      Hi Julia, I’m so glad you enjoyed it!

  12. AJ
    09.06.2022

    5 stars
    This recipe was AMAZING!! My first comment was, “this tastes like something from a fine restaurant.” We made it exactly as you directed, but we placed it over penne pasta and enjoyed it with a bottle of red wine. My husband and I could not get enough of this!

  13. Mary
    09.03.2022

    5 stars
    Another great eggplant recipe to have in my arsenal! I omitted the celery and substituted balsamic vinegar for the sherry vinegar. I tasted right off the stove and it’s great, good mix of textures with lots of tang from the vinegar and capers. It’s about to go in the fridge and get devoured tomorrow once my sourdough is ready. 🙂 I think I might also try it as a packed lunch with bread (to be toasted at work) and Italian herb tofu on the side for protein, or maybe as a vegan pizza topping!

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      09.06.2022

      I’m so glad you loved it!

  14. Susan Collison
    09.01.2022

    5 stars
    My husband’s comment: “That’s the BEST eggplant dish I’ve ever tasted!” I had fun chopping, roasting, & toasting! I had some “everything” sourdough bread that I toasted…can’t wait to eat the leftovers!!! Thank you for sharing your amazing recipes! ~Sue

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      09.02.2022

      Hi Sue, I’m so thrilled you both enjoyed it! I hope you love the leftovers too (we think it gets better on the second day!)

  15. Ru
    08.30.2022

    What about leaving out tomato paste? Seems like it might taste like pasta sauce with the addition of paste. Thank you

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      09.02.2022

      Hi Ru, it helps it thicken, we don’t think it tastes like pasta sauce. If you’d like to leave it out, it’ll be fine too.

  16. debbie
    08.30.2022

    Can I make this in a slow cooker?

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      09.02.2022

      Hi Debbie, I haven’t tried, but I think that would work fine.

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Photograph of Jeanine Donofrio and Jack Mathews in their kitchen

Hello, we're Jeanine and Jack.

We love to eat, travel, cook, and eat some more! We create & photograph vegetarian recipes from our home in Chicago, while our shiba pups eat the kale stems that fall on the kitchen floor.