tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-493144429387237025.post6393307009789097149..comments2024-02-23T21:03:31.489-05:00Comments on Tinkering with Dinner: CSA week seven - Eggplant caponatabilljachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09260406336065905545noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-493144429387237025.post-73083943822930861002009-01-21T15:55:00.000-05:002009-01-21T15:55:00.000-05:00The caponata looks more like a stew than an eggpla...The caponata looks more like a stew than an eggplant dish! Crikey, you're halfway to a curry already, why not make it one? haha! <BR/><BR/>I think this recipe is missing a key flavor component that actually MAKES it a caponata... the olives. <BR/>I said in my post that there are about as many recipes for caponata as there are for spaghetti bolognese and it's true....but still there has to be something that makes it a caponata besides the eggplant and tomatoes! <BR/><BR/>I like to add anchovies to mine...anchovies give such a nice depth of flavor without being too obvious.<BR/><BR/>I have NO IDEA what those silly chefs are aiming at but my guess is that they are trying to be way too clever for a dish that is meant to be so simple.LaDivaCucinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06000430029590301972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-493144429387237025.post-49200307078660521062009-01-21T13:41:00.000-05:002009-01-21T13:41:00.000-05:00When I did a little more research I came across Ma...When I did a little more research I came across Mario Batali's cabonata recipe <A HREF="http://nymag.com/restaurants/articles/recipes/eggplantcaponata.htm" REL="nofollow"></A>. You'd think he'd stick with something strictly Italian (if not strictly Sicilian), but he's got currants, orange juice and cocoa in there. I get the feeling there's something they're both aiming at that we don't know about.<BR/><BR/>By the way, I managed to get the pics in, but I couldn't do any post-processing so they're not as clear as they could be. Still, you should get a sense of what it looked like.billjachttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09260406336065905545noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-493144429387237025.post-68798904179495677672009-01-21T06:42:00.000-05:002009-01-21T06:42:00.000-05:00Well Bill, once again we are simpatico, I did capo...Well Bill, once again we are simpatico, I did caponata a week or two ago on my blog. <BR/><BR/>Leave it to these "celebrity" chefs to over-complicate a simple classic and very tasty dish. Orange juice? Curry powder? Ginger? My Sicilian ancestors are turning in their graves! I"m all about improving on dishes and fusion, but, it's gotta work! <BR/><BR/>I've watched a lot of cooking shows where the host goes to Italy and the recurring theme with Italian cooks is simple dishes that are not overly thought out using the freshest of produce.<BR/><BR/>Check out the recipe I made up for this dish from about a week ago:<BR/><BR/>http://ladivacucina.blogspot.com/ <BR/><BR/>It turned out very good. It was a good way to use up the eggplant and it lasts for weeks in the fridge. That's why I'm not so sure about the sausage....it's meant to be like a relish these days although it was used as a main entree back in the day. (this dish has been around for hundreds of years)LaDivaCucinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06000430029590301972noreply@blogger.com