I’m beginning to think that I should rename my blog “Joanne Eats…Whatever is On Sale At Whole Foods”. Since that is all I cook. I should also note that whatever is on sale is also almost always locally grown. That helps in my decision-making and menu-planning process. I like supporting local farmers. It makes me feel like I’m fighting the good fight against big business in a very Captain Planet kind of way. So from now on, I’m going to stop writing things like, “I made this and used this because this ingredient was on sale at Whole Foods.” You can just assume that to be the case. Unless you see me cooking with fresh figs in the middle of January. In which case you can just assume that I’ve lost my mind or come into a lot of money and can have them specially imported from some tropical location in the Caribbean. Are figs even grown in the Caribbean? I have no idea.

I always feel bad cooking with eggplant because my roommate, Sophie, can’t eat it. She is allergic and it makes her tongue numb. So she’ll walk into the room and say, “Something smells really good.” Probably with the notion that I’ll say, “Hey do you want to taste some?” And I do say that. But then she notices that it has eggplant in it and has to walk away. Sadly. And I have been cooking with it so much lately that she is probably beginning to think that I am categorically including it in recipes so that I don’t have to share. And that’s really not the case. I SWEAR. It’s just that it’s so cheap right now and I love it so much that I just can’t miss the narrow window of opportunity that is eggplant season at the end of August.

Okay so I saw this recipe for eggplant caponata on Closet Cooking many many months ago. It is based on a Mario Batali recipe that can be found on the Food Network website. I have never had a caponata before this although my parents and I were talking about it once and they said that rumor has it that Italians used to keep caponata for months and months before there were fridges by adding salt to it every few days. So you would make it in August when the eggplants were ripe and then eat it in January when it was cold to remind yourself that there is a light (the sun, for example) at the end of the tunnel. After tasting it though, I don’t think I would be able to let it sit around for that long. The intense flavor, especially with the addition of the cinnamon and cocoa powder and balsamic vinegar, was actually addictive. In fact, if you are going to make this you must MUST MUST use good balsamic vinegar. That $2 store brand stuff is just not going to cut it. Sorry.

Although caponata is traditionally served as an appetizer on crostini, you can also turn it into a panini or serve it with pasta. I happened to eat it with a creamy polenta, the simple flavor of which balanced very nicely with the heavily spiced caponata. If you have any eggplants left over from your harvest, this is something I would definitely try making. And for those eggplant-haters out there, I bet it would be great with summer squash as well, which I’m sure is threatening to take over your lives with it’s sheer abundance.
Eggplant Caponata Over Creamy Polenta
Serves 4, adapted from Closet Cooking

2 lb eggplant, diced
1 tbsp olive oil
1 onion
3 tbsp pine nuts
3 tbsp raisins
1 tsp red pepper flakes
2 tbsp sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp thyme
1/4 cup marinara sauce
1/3 cup balsamic vinegar
3 1/2 cups water
1 cup polenta
3 tbsp butter
8 oz neufchatel

For the eggplant:
1. Broil the eggplant in the oven until golden brown, about 7 minutes per side.

2. Heat the oil in a pan. Add the onion, pine nuts, and raisins until the onion is translucent.

3. Add the eggplant, sugar, cinnamon, and cocoa and cook for five minutes. And the thyme, marinara sauce, and balsamic vinegar, and boil. Lower the heat and simmer for five minutes. Serve.

For the polenta:
1. Bring the water (salted) to a boil. Whisk in the polenta. Lower the heat to a simmer, add the butter, and cook according to package directions.

2. Stir in the neufchatel until melted and incorporated and add salt and pepper to taste.

You are reading this post on Eats Well With Others at https://joanne-eatswellwithothers.com. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to the author and or owner of Eats Well With Others. All rights reserved by Joanne Bruno.
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23 Responses to Eggplant Caponata Over Creamy Polenta

  1. It is my personal belief that when people say that they hate a vegetable – that they just haven’t had it cooked in a style that they like.
    It amazes me how often people write to me to say that they hate.. cucumbers, tomatoes, mushrooms, beets, whatever.
    Eggplant is one of my favourites, this looks so good! What a shame to be allergic to eggplants. Sigh.

  2. Amy says:

    Well, you and Natashya both know my plight with eggplant, BUT I’m experimenting tomorrow and I’m going in with a positive attitude!

    I frequent my Farmer’s Market as much as I can to buy fresh and local. Too bad I only have that option for three months out of the year 🙁

  3. nora@ffr says:

    yumm!! i love egg plants!! Eggplant Caponata Over Creamy Polent sound a superb idea!!
    cheers and have a nice weekend!!

  4. nora@ffr says:

    This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

  5. nora@ffr says:

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  6. Mari says:

    OMG that looks amazing…I’m not allergic to eggplant so invite me over next time haha

  7. girlichef says:

    Oh, this looks so delicious! I am loving the eggplant the eggplant/polenta combo!

  8. Marcia says:

    I love caponata. I have a recipe from Lorna Sass Complete Vegetarian Kitchen that is delicious, and makes a ton. And is made in the pressure cooker.

  9. This looks so delicious! I bet it has incredibly rich flavors and is just perfect with the polenta. I’ve never had it but I know I love it!!

  10. Pam says:

    I have been on a quest to find eggplant dishes that I like, and I think I’m definitely going to have to try this one!

  11. Kerstin says:

    I love eggplant too and this looks so fantastic with all those layers of flavor – yum!

  12. Kim says:

    I love Whole Foods too. I just like to go in there, walk around, and see what is new. Right now I’m loving the cheese department at Whole Foods – they just have it all! Love this eggplant and it looks all dreamy served over polenta : )

  13. I really want to try that creamy polenta!!

    Hmmm. Isn’t eggplant a nightshade veggies? Is your roommate allergic to all nightshade veggies?

  14. Kristin says:

    YUM, as usual, another excellent recipe. I think I might try it with the summer squash first as I still have those in my fridge. I’m hoping that my eggplants will take a big leap after all Danny’s rain yesterday.

  15. Shannon says:

    i always buy what’s on sale, too 🙂 and i’m loving eggplant right now! can’t really beat it! this looks absolutely fantastic, with something else i’ve been meaning to cook more–polenta

  16. Elra says:

    Oh, this is my family old time fave! What a great idea serving this with polenta Joanne!

  17. Palidor says:

    Oh, your poor roommate! I’d cry if I were allergic to eggplant. I love it so much! You’re like me, cooking with whatever’s on sale. Hey, if you can save a few bucks while still eating well, why not? The eggplant looks fantastic. I’d never heard of caponata before, much less tasted it, but with those spices, I bet it’s delicious!

  18. Debinhawaii says:

    It looks perfect over the creamy polenta and you can’t beat local, on-sale good veggies like eggplant. Yum! (I do feel sorry for your roommate though! I bet this smelled incredible).

  19. Tammy says:

    Don’t know why, but I just don’t cook with eggplant that often. Your dish looks very interesting, though, and it makes we want to spend more time cooking with eggplant. I especially like the idea of polenta paired with eggplant.

  20. the twins says:

    I love eggplant and this dish looks amazing! and in response to your comment on our blog, yes, we should definitely have a new york blogger meet up.

  21. Kevin says:

    That caponata looks really good! It would go well with the creamy polenta.

  22. Xiaolu says:

    I can’t wait to try this!

  23. comfycook says:

    Here, hubby eats gluten free and I have never made polenta. Shame on me. I love this combo of eggplant and polenta and I think he will also.

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