Caponata / Ratatouille (Oamc)

Known as caponata to the Italians, this cooked vegetable salad has become quite well known in recent years. Think of a sweet-and-sour take on ratatouille and you are on the right lines. You can freeze the caponata for up to 2 months.

• Ready In: 50 mins
• Serves: 4-6
• Yields: 2 lbs

Ingredients

• 2⁄3 cup olive oil
• 2  red onions, chopped
• 2  celery ribs or 1  fennel bulb, diced
• 1  red pepper, deseeded and diced
• 2  eggplants, diced
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 1 (14 ounce)  can roma tomatoes
• 3 1⁄2 ounces  large green olives
• 2  tablespoons capers
• 2 -3  tablespoons  superfine sugar, to taste
• 7  tablespoons red wine vinegar or 7  tablespoons white wine vinegar
• 2  ounces pine nuts (optional)
•  fresh basil leaves (optional) or  mint leaf (optional)

Directions

1. Heat the oil in a deep frying pan over a medium heat. Add the onions, celery or fennel, red pepper, eggplant and salt, and sweat for at least 20-25 minutes or until the pepper and eggplants are very tender. Don't allow the mixture to catch on the bottom of the pan.
2. Squish the tomatoes through a colander until the juices have gone and you are left with a pulp. Stir this into the vegetables and continue to cook gently for a few minutes.
3. Stone and roughly chop the olives with the capers. Add to the vegetables with the sugar and vinegar, and cook for 10 minutes, until most of the liquid has evaporated. Stir in the pine nuts.
4. To serve immediately as a side dish, wilt in the basil or mint leaves, if using. Alternatively, store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days and stir in the fresh herbs to serve. You can also freeze the caponata for up to 2 months.