"One of those tomato-based dishes that gets even better after a day or two in the fridge," writes Jessica Elliott Dennison in her beautiful new cookbook Salad Feasts. "This is my take on a Sicilian caponata. The method for this salad is so simple, you can't go wrong. All I would say is it pays to take the time to really brown the aubergines, allowing them to pick up nice colour and go silky soft in the centre. Smooshed onto some hot toast and topped with lemon-dressed rocket, this is so, so good."
Make Jessica Elliott Dennison’s sticky tomato, olive and aubergine on toast
Hot, crunchy toast provides the perfect base to Dennison's moreish recipe for classic, Sicilian-inspired caponata
Matt Russell
Serves 4
Preparation time 15 mins
Cooking time 25 mins
Ingredients
- 2 firm aubergines (500 g)
- 90ml olive oil
- 1 red onion
- 2 garlic cloves
- 2 tablespoons capers, drained
- 400g tin chopped tomatoes
- 30g sultanas
- 1½ tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 50g pitted olives
- 50g wild rocket
- Small bunch (20 g) flat-leaf parsley
- Small bunch (15 g) basil
- ⅓ lemon
- 4 slices sourdough bread
Method
- First, heat a large frying pan (skillet) over a high heat while you cut the aubergines into large chunks (roughly 2.5 cm). Add most of the oil to the pan along with the aubergine chunks and cook for 5-6 minutes until golden and beginning to darken on all sides.
- Meanwhile, peel and halve the onion then slice into thin half-moons. Peel the garlic and slice into thin slivers.
- Add the remaining oil to the aubergine pan and reduce the heat to low then fry the onion for 3 minutes until beginning to soften. Add the garlic and cook for a further 2 minutes (taking care to not burn the garlic).
- Add the capers to the pan along with the tomatoes, sultanas, vinegar, olives and a few splashes of water. Increase the heat to high, pop on a lid and cook for 7-10 minutes or until the aubergine is soft in the centre. (Keep an eye on the pan and add a few more splashes of water if it's looking too dry at any point.) Remove from the heat and allow to cool to room temperature. (Place in the fridge if you're making a day or two ahead.)
- When you're ready to serve, wash the rocket in a basin of cold water (this will freshen and crispen the leaves), pat dry and place in a large mixing bowl. Tear in the herbs (discard the stalks), squeeze over the lemon and gently toss.
- To assemble, toast the bread then divide between four plates or a large serving board, as pictured. Smear over the aubergines then top with the lemony rocket.
From Salad Feasts by Jessica Elliott Dennison; photography by Matt Russell. Published by Hardie Grant
