Ingredients
- 4 plum tomatoes, halved lengthwise
- 2 medium globe eggplants, cut into 3/4-inch-thick slices
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 1/2 cup canola oil
- 1 large stalk celery, diced
- 1 small red onion, diced
- 1/2 cup Sicilian green olives, pitted and chopped
- 1/2 cup white wine vinegar
- 1/4 cup golden raisins
- 2 tablespoons capers, drained
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- Pinch red chile flakes
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil, plus more for garnish
- 1/4 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley
- 1 loaf Italian bread, sliced into 1/2-inch-thick slices
- 8 ounces ricotta salata, crumbled
Directions
Preheat a grill to medium-high heat.
Brush the tomatoes and eggplant with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Grill the eggplant until golden brown and cooked through, about 4 minutes each side. Grill the tomatoes until charred all over, about 8 minutes. Remove the eggplant and tomatoes from the heat and cut into dice.
Heat 2 tablespoons of the canola oil in a large saute pan. Add the celery and onions and cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the eggplant and tomatoes and cook for 3 minutes. Add the olives, vinegar, raisins, capers, sugar, chile flakes, a big splash olive oil, salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer. Cook, uncovered, stirring occasionally, about 10 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the basil and parsley and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Transfer the caponata to a bowl and keep at room temperature for at least 30 minutes before serving. The caponata can be made 1 day in advance, covered and refrigerated. Bring the caponata to room temperature before serving.
Meanwhile, grill the bread on both sides until slightly charred, about 30 seconds each side. Remove the bread from the grill and drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Top each slice of bread with some of the caponata and sprinkle with the ricotta salata. Drizzle the top of each slice of bread with more olive oil and scatter basil on top.
Photo: Grilled Eggplant Caponata Bruschetta with Ricotta Salata Recipe


















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By foodrevue
Binghamton, NY
on November 08, 2012
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This is a great recipe with all the right old time caponata touches except one. Here's the secret from the old Sicilian guy across the street, use a charcoal grill. No gas, no briquettes, just good hardwood charcoal to grill the eggplant and tomatoes. For an extra kick, try serving with a few grilled fresh anchovies.
By nagere_678974
Baltimore, MD
on July 22, 2012
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Loved it! Definitely use the roma tomatoes. I used heirlooms, and they fell apart. Very easy, and very tasty.
By suecatsdesign_1...
Newport, MI
on July 19, 2012
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I used to eat Progresso's version of Eggplant Caponata when I was a kid growing up on Long Island and loved it, but this takes Caponata to whole new level!! Brought it into work and immediately was asked for the recipe. Bobby knows how to bring the flavors together!
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