caponata

IPA/ˌkæp.əˈnɑː.tə/
IPA/ˌkæp.əˈnɑː.t̬ə/

caponata — noun

1. a cold or warm Sicilian dish of chopped aubergines (eggplant), tomatoes, olives,

1.nounB1
Definition

a cold or warm Sicilian dish of chopped aubergines (eggplant), tomatoes, olives, and capers that are cooked slowly in olive oil until soft and sweet, often served as a starter with bread

Example

Mei ordered a plate of caponata with crusty bread at the new Italian café near her office.

collocation: a plate of caponata

Diego served the caponata cold on a bed of lettuce, just like his Sicilian grandmother used to do.

served cold — typical serving temperature for caponata

Common collocations
  • homemade caponata
  • Sicilian caponata
  • a plate of caponata
  • cold caponata
  • vegetable caponata
  • serve the caponata
Synonyms
  • ratatouille

    a similar French vegetable stew from Provence, eaten hot, and typically includes courgettes (zucchini) and bell peppers, which caponata does not

  • peperonata

    an Italian stew made mainly from bell peppers, tomatoes, and onions, without aubergines (eggplant) or capers

Usage Note

Often served at room temperature or cold, unlike many cooked vegetable dishes that are eaten hot. The flavour improves after resting for a few hours or overnight.

Common Mistakes

I heated the caponata in the microwave until boiling.
I let the caponata come to room temperature before serving.
Caponata is traditionally eaten cold or at room temperature, not piping hot.

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Caponata is often compared to ratatouille, a French vegetable stew from Provence, but key differences set them apart. Caponata is Sicilian, served cold or at room temperature, and has a sweet-sour flavour from vinegar and sometimes sugar, plus capers and olives that ratatouille does not include. Ratatouille is eaten hot, includes courgettes (zucchini) and bell peppers, and relies on olive oil and herbs for seasoning. Peperonata is an Italian stew focused on bell peppers, tomatoes, and onions, with no aubergines or capers. Think of caponata as a bold, vinegary relish, ratatouille as a warm summer vegetable stew, and peperonata as a simple pepper-based side. For example: 'I spread cold caponata on crusty bread for a snack' versus 'We ate hot ratatouille with grilled fish for dinner.'

ratatouille ↗peperonatacaponata ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • caponata recipe
  • caponata flavours
  • caponata ingredients
  • caponata dish

Phrases

  • a plate of caponata
  • a bowl of caponata
  • a jar of caponata
  • homemade caponata

Etymology

CatalanSicilian dialectItalianEnglish

Caponata comes from the Italian (Sicilian dialect) word capunata, which originally meant a sailor's dish of dry biscuit soaked in oil and vinegar, later evolving into the chopped vegetable dish served similarly. The Sicilian word likely traces back to the Catalan caponada, meaning dry bread soaked in oil and vinegar, possibly derived from capó meaning 'capon' (a castrated rooster), though the dish itself is vegetarian.