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    Home » Side Dishes

    Giada's Everyday Caponata

    LAST UPDATED: September 26, 2018 PUBLISHED: September 18, 2018 By Pam Greer 34 Comments As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This Caponata is so easy and delicious!  It makes a great healthy snack or appetizer, perfect for game day!  Served over polenta, it's a great light lunch or dinner.

    Post may contain affiliate links, full disclosure on side bar.

    Click here to pin Giada's Everyday Caponata now! Bowl of Caponata with yellow flowers in a blue jar with text overlay reading Giada's Everyday Caponata

    Healthier Appetizer or Light Main Dish!

    I admit it, I am not very social.  When I go to parties, you will typically find me standing next to the food table.  Munching my way through just about everything.  I'm not very good at small talk, but I am very good at eating!

    I try to pick and choose a few healthier items in between the massive amounts of cheese that I consume.  One of my favorite healthier snacks is Giada's Everyday Caponata!

    I made this because my CSA kept giving me eggplant and I don't like eggplant.  Feeling guilty for composting it every week, I searched for something to do with it and found this recipe and thought I'd give it a try.

    Bowl of caponata, crackers and flowers

    Sicilian Recipes are so Good!

    Giada explains that this is a classic Sicilian recipe.  Apparently I really love Sicilian recipes because I loved this and I also loved Tyler Florence's Sicilian Style Spaghetti.   I really like the use of raisins in savory dishes.  They bring a subtle sweetness.

    Bowl of Giada's Caponata

    Giada's Everyday Caponata

    This was so good.  A little sweet and a little tart.  I've made this many times.  Sometimes it's a game day snack with crackers or chips.  I've also served it as a meatless main dish with it spooned over polenta.  You serve it at room temperature, so it's great for lunches and to make ahead!

    I found this in the first Giada cookbook that I ever bought: Everyday Italian: 125 Simple and Delicious Recipes.  I've since added Giada at Home:  Family Recipes from Italy and California and Weeknights with Giada:  Quick and Simple Recipes to Revamp Dinner. 

    Looking for more healthy snacks:

    Two jars of deep pink hummus with rainbow carrot sticks on a blue background

    This Roasted Beet Hummus is gorgeous to look at, healthy and delicious!

    Jar of pickles with flowers behind them

    Pickles are great for game day, especially when they are homemade, like these easy Refrigerator Bread and Butter Pickles.

    Pumpkin seeds in a bowl

    Giada's Everyday Caponata
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    4.84 from 18 votes

    Giada's Everyday Caponata

    Delicious and healthy snack or appetizer!  Serve over polenta for a light lunch or dinner! 
    Course Appetizer
    Cuisine Mediterranean
    Prep Time 15 minutes
    Cook Time 35 minutes
    Total Time 50 minutes
    Servings 6
    Calories 153kcal

    Ingredients

    • ¼ cup olive oil
    • 1 stalk celery chopped
    • 1 eggplant cut into ½ inch cubes
    • 1 onion chopped
    • 1 red bell pepper cored, seeded, cut into ½ inch pieces
    • 14 ½ ounce diced tomatoes canned
    • 3 tablespoons raisins
    • ½ teaspoon oregano dried
    • ¼ cup red wine vinegar
    • 4 teaspoons sugar
    • 1 tablespoon capers drained
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ½ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
    • basil leaves for garnish

    Instructions

    • Heat the oil in a large heavy skillet over medium heat.
    • Add the celery and saute for about 2 minutes.  Add the eggplant and saute for 2 minutes.  Add the onions and saute for about 3 minutes.  Add the red pepper and saute for about  5 minutes. 
    • Add the diced tomatoes and their juice, raisins and oregano.  Simmer over medium-low heat for about 20 minutes.  The mixture should thicken. 
    • Stir in the vinegar, sugar, capers, and the salt and pepper.  Season with more salt and pepper to taste. 
    • Serve at room temperature, garnished with fresh basil leaves. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 153kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 248mg | Potassium: 424mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 750IU | Vitamin C: 34mg | Calcium: 36mg | Iron: 1.3mg

    After carving your pumpkin, save your seeds and make these addictive Sweet and Salty Roasted Pumpkin Seeds!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Kayla says

      September 20, 2021 at 8:15 am

      5 stars
      Yum! This was unlike anything I have tried, so delicious!

      Reply
    2. Suzanne says

      April 05, 2020 at 3:00 pm

      can your use roasted red pepper, if you don't have a fresh red pepper?

      Reply
      • Pam Greer says

        April 05, 2020 at 3:03 pm

        Sure!

        Reply
    3. Kinga says

      December 21, 2018 at 10:18 am

      5 stars
      Pretty<3

      Reply
    4. Sarah F says

      September 26, 2018 at 9:39 am

      How much onion? It's not mentioned in the ingredient list, but is mentioned in the cooking instructions. Thanks!

      Reply
      • Pam Greer says

        September 26, 2018 at 9:53 am

        Oh, so sorry! It's one onion!

        Reply
    5. Bintu | Recipes From A Pantry says

      September 18, 2018 at 5:02 pm

      5 stars
      This looks like such a healthy and tasty appetizer idea! I think I need to give it a try!

      Reply
      • Pam Greer says

        September 18, 2018 at 5:18 pm

        You do! I love it and I don't even like eggplant!

        Reply
    6. Pam says

      September 18, 2018 at 4:47 pm

      5 stars
      I have to admit I have never heard of Caponata. But, I'm intrigued. It looks amazing!

      Reply
      • Pam Greer says

        September 18, 2018 at 5:18 pm

        It's so good!

        Reply
    7. Jennifer | Savorwithjennifer says

      September 18, 2018 at 4:42 pm

      5 stars
      Oooohhhh this looks so good! Anything with capers and I’m sold!

      Reply
      • Pam Greer says

        September 18, 2018 at 5:18 pm

        You would love it!

        Reply
    8. Holly says

      September 18, 2018 at 4:15 pm

      Looks like a great healthy recipe that will be even better than the usual football food shared at weekend parties. I like the idea of a CSA and need to look into that for my area.

      Reply
      • Pam Greer says

        September 18, 2018 at 5:18 pm

        Perfect for snacking during football!

        Reply
    9. Tara Kuczykowski says

      September 18, 2018 at 3:39 pm

      5 stars
      What a lovely healthy appetizer idea!

      Reply
      • Pam Greer says

        September 18, 2018 at 3:48 pm

        We all love cheesy appetizers, but it's good to have some healthy options too!

        Reply
    10. Marcia Kuehner says

      April 07, 2016 at 4:47 pm

      I would make this again, without wine vinegar..too sour for my taste..

      Reply
    11. Kevin says

      September 19, 2009 at 6:57 pm

      That looks so good! I like all of the vegetables in it!

      Reply
    12. Joanne says

      September 17, 2009 at 10:30 am

      As a completely unbiased individual (ahem) I have to agree with you that Sicilian food is great. I'm pretty sure it IS the sweet and sour that makes it so good. And all of that balsamic vinegar doesn't hurt, especially if it's the good stuff.

      I love caponata after making it myself the other day. I love how we both served it over polenta! I would love to try Giada's variation to compare and contrast. With a nice glass of red wine, eating at an angle will surely be a possibility for me.

      Reply
    13. Peter M says

      September 17, 2009 at 12:56 pm

      Pam, thanks for the link-love and I too enjoy Sicilian cuisine as it has many similarities to Greek cuisine. Enjoy!

      Reply
    14. a good yarn says

      September 17, 2009 at 8:16 am

      My all time favourite Sicilian dish is Inspector Montalbano. Mmmm....... scrumptious!

      Reply
    15. Paula says

      September 17, 2009 at 6:24 am

      Mmm, mmm, mmm! I love caponata, and ate it regularly growing up! In fact, a variation of this would have been frequently requested as a meal that I love. I haven't had it with the sweet elements of raisin and sugar, but I'd gladly try it. What time should I arrive to try this, eating at an angle, of course! 🙂

      Reply
    16. Alisa - Frugal Foodie says

      September 17, 2009 at 3:58 am

      Well, you definitely managed to catch its good side, as that looks excellent!

      Reply
    17. SDK says

      September 16, 2009 at 10:58 pm

      I like that you recognize that a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, yet you press on. I like the confidence.

      Reply
    18. Natashya KitchenPuppies says

      September 16, 2009 at 10:43 pm

      I love Italian food, and Giada. And eggplant is a definite fave. Looks delish! I will have to try it sometime.

      Reply
    19. Amy says

      September 16, 2009 at 5:12 pm

      My distaste for eggplant has recently been turned around. (I think I had just too many awful eggplant parmesan meals over the years.)

      Yes, some dishes just don't like the camera, no matter how many garnishes you put on them. But I still think this looks yummy.

      Reply
    20. noble pig says

      September 16, 2009 at 8:58 pm

      The colors are perfect for this time of year!

      Reply
    21. Barbara says

      September 16, 2009 at 6:11 pm

      I know- isn't it annoying when something tastes fabulous but you don't like the finished photo? (Although I don't know what you are complaining about- your photo is wonderful.) Giada has done it again- I really do like a lot of her recipes.

      Reply
    22. Grace says

      September 16, 2009 at 5:24 pm

      looks pretty photogenic to me, pam! that polenta is so fresh and so smooth, smooth, and the veggies atop it are luscious as well. the end.

      Reply
    23. Anh says

      September 16, 2009 at 12:42 pm

      Yum! Your photos are getting better by the day, Pam!

      Reply
    24. Judi says

      September 16, 2009 at 4:09 pm

      Eat at an angle.. LOL! Looks great.

      Reply
    25. Andrea says

      September 16, 2009 at 2:40 pm

      Wonderful photos...and this looks delicious!!! 🙂

      Reply
    26. Marjie says

      September 16, 2009 at 1:30 pm

      I never even heard of caponata. I guess I need to get out more. Or else, you can do it for me, and write about it. And who cares if you forget the garnish? The picture was pretty anyway!

      Reply
    27. Joy says

      September 16, 2009 at 12:15 pm

      Eat at an angle. Only you would come up with that. You never fail to make me smile.

      Reply

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