Caponata In Lavash Cups Recipes

RADICCHIO LETTUCE CUPS WITH CAPONATA

Steps:

• Soak lettuce leaves for about 10 minutes in ice water to reduce bitterness. Wrap in damp paper towel to keep moist until ready to serve.
• In large saute pan, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium-high heat until hot. Add the garlic and saute briefly until brown. Add the onion and brown lightly, about 3 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium, add a pinch each of salt and pepper (go easy on the salt because the anchovies will add that extra bit of saltiness). Continue to cook until the onion is well browned, about 5 minutes. Add the anchovies and cook and stir until they melt into the onion. Add the chili flakes, then the caper juice and stand back to avoid getting splattered. Stir and scrape all around the pan. Add 1/4 cup of the vinegar, return the heat to high, and boil until reduced and thick, 1 to 2 minutes.
• In a separate pan, heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil in a large saute pan over medium-high heat until hot. Add the eggplant and saute until browned and cooked through, about 6 minutes. Saute only a small bunch at a time, to avoid letting the eggplant boil in its own juices. If the pan gets too dry, add more olive oil as the cooking progresses - if you add too much olive oil early in the process, the eggplant will absorb all of it and still need more. Make sure to scrape the bottom of the pan well so nothing burns. Season with salt and pepper. Scrape into a bowl.
• Add the garlic-anchovy mixture to the eggplant with the capers and remaining vinegar. Stir well, then scrape into a bowl. Stir in the roasted peppers and parsley and taste again for seasoning. Let cool to room temperature before serving.
• When ready to assemble, place 1 to 2 tablespoons of caponata in chilled lettuce cups. Wrap into ball and enjoy.
• Brush peppers with olive oil (this carries the heat into crevices, helping the skin to blister more evenly). Roast the peppers whole under a broiler or on the stovetop, or grill, turning occasionally until the skins blister and char all over.
• Place in paper bag, and let steam to loosen the skins, for about 15 minutes. Working over the bowl to catch any juices, peel off the skins. Seed the peppers, then slice into long strips and place in a clean bowl. Pour the juices left in the steaming bowl over the peppers and refrigerate for up to several days.

EASY CAPONATA

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add celery and cook uncovered until softened, about 1 minute. Drain in a colander and immediately immerse in ice water for several minutes to stop the cooking process. Drain.
• Heat oil in a large non-stick skillet over medium heat; add onion and celery and cook until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add eggplant, red bell peppers, and zucchini and cook until slightly softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in tomato puree, vinegar, and sugar. Cook until the vegetables are tender, about 15 minutes. Add olives, raisins, pine nuts, and capers. Season with salt and pepper and cook until flavors are well combined, about 5 minutes.
• Remove skillet from heat; stir in chopped basil. Cool and serve at room temperature.

CAPONATA IN LAVASH CUPS

Steps:

• Cut eggplant and bell peppers into 1/4-inch dice. Finely chop onion and mince garlic. In a heavy saucepan simmer all caponata ingredients except raisins, capers, and parsley, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are tender and most of liquid is evaporated, about 15 minutes. Stir in raisins and capers and cool mixture to room temperature. Stir in parsley. (Caponata may be made 2 days ahead and chilled, covered.)
• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• With a mortar and pestle or in a cleaned electric coffee/spice grinder crush anise seeds. Cut lavash into 36 1 3/4-inch squares, discarding trimmings.
• In a bowl of water soak 12 lavash squares 15 seconds and on a work surface, using edge of a spoon, scrape off a thin layer of bread from each square (cups will be tough when baked if left at full thickness). Gently press squares, white sides up, into 12 mini-muffin molds (see note, above) and sprinkle with some anise seeds and salt. Bake lavash cups in middle of oven 15 minutes, or until golden and crisp, and cool in pan on a rack. Make more cups in same manner. (Cups may be made 2 days ahead and kept in an airtight container at room temperature.)
• Spoon caponata into cups.

CAPONATA PASTA BAKE

Steps:

• Preheat broiler to high.
• Reheat caponata in the microwave or on the stovetop. Cook pasta until al dente in salted water, drain and transfer back into hot pot. Add hot caponata and combine.
• Transfer pasta and vegetables to a (9 by 13-inch) baking dish. Top with shredded provolone, crushed pepper flakes, and parsley.
• Place baking dish under broiler to brown and bubble cheese. Serve immediately.
• If you prepare a salad, keep it simple. Mixed greens tossed with fresh herbs, dressed with oil, vinegar, salt, and pepper.
• Place the cutting board near the stovetop. Preheat a big, deep pot over medium heat. Add oil, garlic, and crushed pepper. As you chop vegetables (peppers, onion, and celery), add them to the pot. Once vegetables are in there, increase heat a bit.
• Stir in olives and capers, raisins. Salt the diced eggplant and stir into the pot. Add tomatoes, diced and crushed, to the pot and stir caponata well to combine. Cover pot and cook caponata 15 to 20 minutes, until vegetables are tender. Stir in parsley and remove pan from heat.

10-MINUTE PENNE WITH CAPONATA SAUCE

Steps:

• 1. Heat oil in large, heavy skillet over moderately high heat for 2 minutes. Add scallions, stir-fry mix, and garlic; reduce heat to moderate and cook, stirring, until scallions are limp and excess pepper juices evaporate, 3 to 5 minutes.
• 2. Add caponata and broth and simmer uncovered, stirring often, just until flavors mingle, about 5 minutes.
• 3. Mix in basil, parsley, and salt and papper to taste. Add penne and toss lightly to coat with sauce, sprinkle with grated cheese, and serve with additional grated Parmesan.
• Variation:
• Penne with Salsa and Cilantro
• Prepare as directed, substituting 2 cups milk, medium or hot salsa for caponata, beef broth for chicken, and coarsely chopped cilantro for basil, and toss in 1/3 cup crisp bacon crumbles along with pasta.
• Tips:
• Cook the penne while the sauce simmers. To save on dish-washing, use a skillet that's pretty enough to go to the table.

CAPONATA AUTHENTIC AND DELICIOUS

Steps:

• Warm ½ cup of the olive oil in a large skillet pan on medium high heat. Add eggplant and cook until lightly brown, but still firm, about 5 minutes. Set aside in a a flameproof casserole or deep sauce pan.
• Warm the 2 tablespoons of olive oil in the skillet and add the onions. Cook until wilted, about 4 minutes. Stir in celery, then tomatoes. Crush the tomatoes with the back of a slotted spoon. Simmer over medium low heat until the tomatoes begin to sweeten, but celery is still crisp, about 15 minutes. Stir in capers and pine nuts. Transfer this into the casserole pan with the eggplant.
• In a small sauce pan on low heat, stir together sugar and vinegar. Warm until it dissolves. Stir into the eggplant mixture. Season with salt and pepper.
• Cover and simmer over low heat, stirring frequently until tomatoes are cooked and the vegetables are tender but not mushy-about 15-20 minutes.
• Store in refrigerator. Keeps for a week or a little more. Serve warm, room temperature, or chilled. Delicious on Italian country bread or bruschetta!