Best and Easiest Ways To Use Caponata

Caponata is a savory, slightly sweet and tangy Sicilian relish made with fresh seared or roasted eggplant, tomatoes, red peppers, Sicilian green olives, fresh garlic and capers.  There are some variations to the ingredient profile, some recipes contain celery and additional vegetables such as zucchini or black olives and most recipes use the combination of a sweetener (sugar, honey, etc.) with an acid such as red wine vinegar to preserve it and give it that slightly sweet yet tangy flavor profile.  Caponata is a delicious and is quite versatile in the kitchen.  It can be used in a variety of dishes from simple appetizer and cheese plates to hearty pasta dishes.  Here are our recommendations on the best ways to use our Bruschetta Caponata Relish or any caponata relish you have on hand or make at home.

1. Caponata Relish As A Topping For Grilled Breads and Crostini

An easy crowd-pleasing late summer appetizer is grilled crusty bread topped with our bruschetta caponata relish and a drizzle of olive oil and dash of salt and pepper.  It's both fresh and satisfying.  Add some burrata cheese or mozzarella to make it even more special.

Pictured Below:  Grilled Rustic Bread with Burrata and Bruschetta Caponata Relish

 

2.  Add Bruschetta Caponata Relish To An Antipasto Platter

Bruschetta Caponata Relish is a complimentary accompaniment to an antipasto platter of grilled breads, crackers, olives, pickled or marinated vegetables, cured meats (salami, soppressata) and cheese (burrata, mozzarella and Parmigiano Reggiano cheese)

3.  Spoon Bruschetta Caponata over Grilled Meats 

A simple grilled flank steak with bruschetta caponata spooned over top with a drizzle of oil and fresh herbs is a delicious summer dinner.  You can also add bruschetta caponata over grilled chicken breasts with fresh mozzarella, basil and a drizzle of balsamic for a caprese style chicken dinner.  

4. Caponata As A Pasta Sauce

Add a jar of caponata relish to a can of tomato sauce for a extra flavorful pasta sauce (the garlic, seared eggplant and capers add so much flavor to the sauce, think of it as a ratatouille style pasta sauce).  Delicious over penne with a drizzle of fresh infused basil oil and shaved parmesan (also delicious when you add a little ground beef or sausage).

Pictured Below: Orecchiette Pasta with Sausage and Wozz! Bruschetta Caponata

 

5.  Bruschetta Caponata As A Topping or Sauce For Chicken 

Bruschetta Caponata Relish makes a wonderful quick and easy condiment for grilled chicken breasts.  Spoon atop with a little shaved parmesan and that's it.  You can also combine a jar of our Bruschetta Caponata Relish with heavy cream or cream cheese, wine and chicken stock on the stovetop for a delicious creamy tomato sauce for chicken.

Pictured Below: Creamy Bruschetta Caponata Chicken

6.   Serve Bruschetta Caponata with Cheese

Delicious served with soft Italian cheese including Ricotta, Burrata and fresh Mozzarella and with semi hard to hard cheese including Parmigiano Reggiano and Pecorino.  Add cured meats and crackers and you've got a simple delicious cheese plate.

7.  As an Accompaniment to Grilled Fish and Seafood

For a fresh summer dinner, bruschetta caponata can be served with grilled seafood including scallops and shrimp and with grilled fish such as mahi mahi, tuna, cod or halibut.  You can make simply heat up the bruschetta caponata in a saucepan with a little olive oil or butter and splash of wine and spoon it over top your grilled fish or seafood.  As an alternative "en papillote" method you can add a spoonful of caponata relish to raw fish in parchment paper with a few fresh cherry tomatoes, a clove of garlic and drizzle of olive oil and bake in the oven.  

Pictured Below:  Grilled Tuna Steaks with Linguine and Caponata

8.  Caponata As A Condiment For Grilled Vegetables

Top grilled vegetables such as red peppers, summer squash, eggplant, zucchini and asparagus with our Bruschetta Caponata Relish and top with crumbled goats cheese or shaved parmesan, a drizzle of olive oil, salt pepper and fresh herbs.

Pictured Below:  Grilled Zucchini with Caponata Relish and Parmesan

 

9. Caponata As A Sandwich Relish

Add Bruschetta Caponata Relish to a simple no frills grilled cheese sandwich or caprese style panini with chicken, fresh basil leaves, cheese and a drizzle of balsamic.  Add caponata to a grilled steak sandwich, top a veggie burger or add to a Muffuletta sandwich for some extra Italian flair.

10. As A Dip

Serve our Bruschetta Caponata Relish as an accompaniment cheese and crackers or charcuterie.  You can also serve bruschetta caponata over whipped feta with olives, mix into cream cheese, serve over hummus or spoon over a bake goats cheese dip.  For a simple fun entertaining idea, add Bruschetta Caponata Relish to mini tarts with mozzarella, bake and top with fresh basil.

Pictured Below:  Hot Baked Goats Cheese Dip with Bruschetta Caponata Relish

 

We hope you enjoy these recipes and recommendations on the best and easiest ways to use Wozz! Bruschetta Caponata Relish or any Sicilian style caponata or tomato - ratatouille style relish.  

 

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