4 servings serving suggestion: greens tossed mixed fresh with herbs, dressed with oil, vinegar, salt, and pepper
0.5 cup kalamata olives black pitted chopped
1 cubanelle long pepper diced green italian seeded
6 cups greens mixed
2 tablespoons olive oil extra-virgin 2 turns around the pan
3 tablespoons olive oil extra-virgin
1 bell pepper diced red seeded
0.5 teaspoon pepper flakes red crushed
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
0.3 cup romano grated
4 servings salt
4 servings salt and pepper
1 large onion sweet peeled chopped
1 cup specialty foods aisles italian
1 cup specialty foods aisles italian
Equipment
frying pan
pot
stove
cutting board
Directions
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, capers, and 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.
Polenta: Bring 3 cups chicken broth to a boil.
Add polenta and stir constantly until the cornmeal masses together. Stir in herbs, butter, cheese, salt, and pepper.
Spread polenta out over a serving platter. Make a shallow well from the center out and fill with half of the prepared caponata. This stands as a complete dinner on its own, so rich with vitamins and fresh vegetables. Refrigerate the remaining caponata for a later use.
If you prepare a salad, keep it simple. Dress mixed greens with oil, vinegar, salt, and pepper. Caponata can also be used as a bruschetta topping.
