Caponata

Serves 8

Ingredients:

1/4 cup olive oil

1 1/4 lbs eggplant, cut into a small dice

1 medium onion, chopped fine

1/2 cup celery, chopped fine

1/2 cup green olives, pitted and chopped fine

1/4 cup capers, drained and chopped

1/4 cup red wine vinegar

1/4 cup golden raisins

1/4 cup pignolis (pine nuts), toasted

1 cup ripe tomatoes (preferably Italian plum), diced

to taste Sugar

1/4 cup Italian flat-leafed parsley, chopped fine

Directions:

1. Heat half the olive oil in a skillet over high heat and cook the eggplant for about five minutes, stirring often.
2. Remove the eggplant and place in a bowl. Reduce the heat to medium and add the rest of the oil to the skillet.
3. When it is hot add the onion and celery and cook for about five minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the olives, the capers, the vinegar, the sugar, the raisins, the pine nuts and the tomatoes.
4. Cover the pan and cook for another ten minutes, stirring occasionally.
5. Add everything to the eggplant. Stir in the parsley. For best results, let the caponata cool and refrigerate several hours or overnight.
6. Serve with small toasts (bruschetta), with your favorite pasta, or as a compliment to polenta.