Caponata
Sweet-and-sour aubergine relish with capers and olives. · Italy
Sweet-and-sour aubergine relish with capers and olives.
About Caponata
Fried aubergine is simmered with celery, tomato, olives and capers in a sweet-and-sour agrodolce of vinegar and sugar, then served at room temperature. It is the great Sicilian vegetable dish.
🏛️ History & Culture
Caponata is a cornerstone of Sicilian cuisine, with its origins rooted in the island’s agricultural abundance and historical influences. While the exact invention date is unknown, its sweet-and-sour "agrodolce" character reflects Arab culinary traditions that shaped Sicily for centuries, blending local vegetables with exotic sugar and vinegar.
Regional variations across Sicily are common—some versions add pine nuts, raisins, or even chocolate, while others adjust the ratio of celery to eggplant. Traditionally served at room temperature as an antipasto or side dish, caponata embodies the island’s resourceful use of garden produce and remains a symbol of convivial, home-style cooking.
Recipes from travellers
No one has shared their own Caponata recipe yet. Yours would be the first.
Share how you make Caponata
You'll need to be signed in with Google or Facebook so your name can appear on it. Recipes go through an automatic food-safety check before they publish.
Sign in to share your recipe
Caponata — frequently asked questions
What is Caponata?
Fried aubergine is simmered with celery, tomato, olives and capers in a sweet-and-sour agrodolce of vinegar and sugar, then served at room temperature. It is the great Sicilian vegetable dish.
What is Caponata made of?
Caponata is made with aubergine, celery, olives, capers and vinegar.
Where does Caponata come from?
Caponata comes from Italy, and is especially associated with Sicily. Caponata is a cornerstone of Sicilian cuisine, with its origins rooted in the island’s agricultural abundance and historical influences.
Where can I eat Caponata?
A Sicilian table, served cool with bread as an antipasto.
Taste Caponata in Rome
Independent picks. We earn a small commission if you book through these — at no extra cost to you. How this works.
✅ Before you go to Italy
Round out your trip — most travellers book these alongside their trip.
More dishes like Caponata
Ricotta
Ricotta is the fresh Italian whey cheese with a soft, milky and slightly grainy curd, used in pastas, pastries and desserts and made from cow, sheep or buffalo milk.
Tiramisù
Coffee-soaked ladyfingers layered with whipped mascarpone and dusted with cocoa — Italy's most exported dessert.
Soppressata
Soppressata counts among the traditional food of Italy, a sausage locals hold dear.
Babà al Rum
Spongy yeast cake soaked in rum syrup.
Cacciucco
Tuscan fish stew of many species over garlic toast.
Pizza Boscaiola
Pizza Boscaiola is a traditional pizza from Italy.
Caesar Salad
Crisp romaine in a garlicky, anchovy-rich dressing.
Ensalada Fruta
Hailing from Mexico, Ensalada Fruta is a much-loved fruit salad.
Horiatiki (Greek Salad)
Tomato, cucumber and a slab of feta under olive oil and oregano.
Ndiwo
From Zambia, Ndiwo is a well-known vegetable dish.
Mas Huni
Shredded tuna and coconut breakfast with flatbread.
Boûkète
Rooted in Belgium, Boûkète is a pancake enjoyed for generations.
Toad in the Hole
Sausages baked into a puffed Yorkshire batter.
Lakka
A golden Finnish liqueur made by steeping wild cloudberries in neutral spirit with sugar — intensely fruity and sweet, traditionally served ice-cold as a digestif or poured over ice cream.
Trdelník
Spit-roasted sugar-crusted chimney cake.
Dolmades
Vine leaves rolled around herbed rice or meat.
- 🇮🇹 Ricotta · Italy
- 🇮🇹 Tiramisù · Italy
- 🇮🇹 Soppressata · Italy
- 🇮🇹 Babà al Rum · Italy
- 🇮🇹 Cacciucco · Italy
- 🇮🇹 Pizza Boscaiola · Italy
- 🇲🇽 Caesar Salad · Mexico
- 🇲🇽 Ensalada Fruta · Mexico
- 🇬🇷 Horiatiki (Greek Salad) · Greece
- 🇿🇲 Ndiwo · Zambia
- 🇲🇻 Mas Huni · Maldives
- 🇧🇪 Boûkète · Belgium
- 🇬🇧 Toad in the Hole · United Kingdom
- 🇫🇮 Lakka · Finland
- 🇨🇿 Trdelník · Czech Republic
- 🇬🇷 Dolmades · Greece
Keep exploring
Travel guides for Italy
All travel guides →Planning a trip where Caponata is on the menu? These guides cover Italy and beyond.
Destination Guides A Food Lover's Guide to Milan, Tokyo & Seoul: What to Eat and Where
Jul 10, 2026 · 2 min read
Adventure Travel Hiking the Dolomites: A First-Timer's Guide to Italy's Most Spectacular Mountains (2026)
Jun 03, 2026 · 5 min read
Destination Guides 4 Days in Rome — The Perfect First-Timer Itinerary (2026)
May 28, 2026 · 5 min read
Budget Travel The Price of a Plate: What the National Dish Costs in 50 Countries (2026 Index)
Sep 02, 2026 · 6 min read
Reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to share your experience with Caponata.
Write a review
Sign in to verify you're a real person, then share your thoughts on Caponata.
Comments
No comments yet. Be the first to say something about Caponata.