Keeping Traditions - Eggplant Caponata

I always thought that there should be a place where family recipes can be shared. What's old is new again and over time the dishes and recipes of our grandparents and parents have become lost in our busy lives . I myself have a long tradition of cooking Italian. I'm sure each person can name a number of dishes that they remember eating as a child. Or that special comfort food that Grandma used to prepare. In the passing of generations these dishes have become lost or forgotten. I hope to bring you a host of recipes that I grew up enjoying. Maybe some might sound familiar. Maybe your family prepared it a little different. But in all, what ever came out of Grandma's kitchen was warm and comforting. I dedicate this blog to Grandma Lili Verga and to her constant love and affection. And to the way she always showed it by saying, "MANGIA FIGIU MIA!, MANGIA!

I'm second generation Italian. I grew up in Brooklyn, New York in an area called Bensonhurst. I was raised by two Italian mothers - my mother and grandmother. We lived in a two family house that my grandparents owned. I always enjoyed two dinners growing up. When I finished what my mother cooked I would always run upstairs to see what Grandma was preparing and she would always put another plate on the table and pleaded for me to "mangia".

My father was a carpenter and my grandfather had his own butcher shop a block away from where we lived. We would have huge family gatherings for the holidays that were celebrated in the basement of our home. That was the only room large enough to hold a table that my father would fabricate to accommodate all the Aunts ,Uncles and cousins that would show up for the feast. And it was a feast that would always end with a card game as we cracked nuts, ate fruit, drank wine and listened to the elders argue over whose town in Sicily was more beautiful. These are my roots.

So to get started I would like to share a recipe that is a long standing tradition of Sicilian cooking and my grandmother - Caponata - or as we used to call it - Caponatina - a mixture of eggplant, onions, celery, capers and pine nuts in a savory sweet/sour sauce of tomatoes.

TWO LARGE EGGPLANT

1/2 POUND OF GREEN OLIVES PACKED IN BRINE AND PITTED

6 STALKS OF CELERY, STRIP THE FILAMENTS FROM THE CELERY STICKS

2 LARGE ONIONS

1 - 14.5 OZ CAN OF WHOLE PEELED TOMATOES WITH THEIR JUICE

1 - 15 OZ CAN OF TOMATO SAUCE

6 OZ OF SALTED CAPERS, RINSED

3/8 CUP OF PINE NUTS

1/3 CUP OF RED WINE VINEGAR

2 TABLESPOONS SUGAR

OLIVE OIL

KOSHER SALT

SLICE THE EGGPLANT INTO 1/2 INCH ROUNDS

CUT ROUNDS INTO QUARTERS

PLACE CUT EGGPLANT INTO STRAINER AND SPRINKLE EACH LAYER LIBERALLY WITH SALT. LET THEM SIT, COVERED WITH A PLATE, FOR AT LEAST AN HOUR TO DRAW OUT THE BITTER JUICES.

WHILE THE EGGPLANT IS SITTING, BLANCH THE CELERY STICKS IN SALTED WATER FOR 5 MINUTES. DRAIN AND RUN UNDER COLD WATER TO COOL. CUT THE CELERY STICKS INTO BITE SIZED PIECES.

SAUTE CELERY IN A LITTLE OLIVE OIL FOR 5 MINUTES. SET ASIDE IN A SMALL PLATE.

RINSE AWAY THE SALT FROM THE EGGPLANT AND PAT THE PIECES DRY WITH A PAPER TOWEL. FRY THEM IN SMALL BATCHES IN OLIVE OIL (NEVER USE EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL FOR FRYING) TILL THEY ARE GOLDEN BROWN. EGGPLANT WILL ABSORB THE OIL SO ADD MORE AS NEEDED.

PLACE THE COOKED EGGPLANT ON PAPER TOWELS TO ABSORB THE OIL.

SLICE THE ONION VERY THIN LENGTH WISE.

SAUTE THE ONION IN ABOUT 2 TABLESPOONS OF OLIVE OIL TILL TRANSLUCENT.

ADD THE CAPERS, PINE NUTS, OLIVES, DICED TOMATOES WITH THEIR JUICE AND TOMATO SAUCE.

CONTINUE COOKING ON MEDIUM HEAT, STIRRING, UNTIL TOMATOES ARE DONE, ABOUT 15 MINUTES.

STIR IN THE EGGPLANT AND PREVIOUSLY COOKED CELERY.

COOK FOR SEVERAL MINUTES OVER LOW FLAME, STIRRING GENTLY.

ADD 2 TBL OF SUGAR

ADD 1/3 CUP OF RED WINE VINEGAR

CONTINUE COOKING, STIRRING GENTLY UNTIL MOST OF THE VINEGAR HAS EVAPORATED. REMOVE THE PAN FROM THE FIRE AND LET IT COOL. TASTE FOR SALT.

STOP at this point and do not eat yet!!! This dish must sit covered in a container in the fridge for at least overnight. The taste mellows with time and gets even BETTER! You can toast slices of Italian bread and top with the Caponata. Makes a great side dish with a loaf of Italian bread and some cheese and olives. Wine optional.

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