Sicilian-Style Broccoli Rabe With Eggplant and Capers Recipe

All the flavors of caponata in a flavorful sauce that is tart, sweet, and rich all at once.

By
J. Kenji López-Alt
Kenji Lopez Alt
J. Kenji López-Alt
Culinary Consultant
Kenji is the former culinary director for Serious Eats and a current culinary consultant for the site. He is also a New York Times food columnist and the author of The Food Lab: Better Home Cooking Through Science.
Learn about Serious Eats' Editorial Process
Updated October 01, 2023
A black bowl of broccoli rabe with a flavorful caponata-style sauce.

Serious Eats / J. Kenji López-Alt

Why It Works

  • Vinegar, sugar, pinenuts, and olive oil create a dish that is balanced but very flavorful.
  • Instead of the typical caponata that's used as a dip, here it's thinned out as a sauce for broccoli rabe.

I don't think they really eat broccoli rabe like this in Sicily, but having recently returned from a week of gorging myself on everything I could find on that pretty and olive-oil soaked island, I can tell you that the flavors represented in this dish—the sweet and sour of vinegar and sugar, the butteriness of pinenuts and olive oil—is about as Sicilian as it gets. Plus, "Sicilian Style Sweet and Sour Broccoli Rabe" just sounds sexier than "Not-Sicilian Broccoli Rabe with Sicilian-ish Flavors," doesn't it?

The root of the dish is a basic caponata, the Sicilian relish of eggplants cooked down in olive oil, flavored with capers, celery, onions, vinegar, and sugar. You'll see it most often in the U.S. as a dip, whereas in Sicily, it's a small plate unto itself served at the beginning and throughout the meal.

Here, I'm instead changing up the ratios a bit, thinning it out a little, and using it as a sauce for broccoli rabe. The bitterness of broccoli rabe adds yet another dimension to the already flavor-packed sauce.

The best part is how easy it is to put together. Once you have your sauce made and your broccoli rabe blanched, they can sit in the fridge for a day or two. All you have to do to serve is toss them together, and you're good to go.

November 2012

Recipe Details

Sicilian-Style Broccoli Rabe With Eggplant and Capers Recipe

Prep 5 mins
Cook 45 mins
Active 45 mins
Total 50 mins
Serves 8 to 10 servings
Cook Mode (Keep screen awake)

Ingredients

  • 1 small eggplant, cut into 1/2-inch dice (about 1 quart)

  • Kosher salt

  • 6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

  • 1 medium onion, finely diced (about 1 cup)

  • 2 stalks celery, finely diced (about 1/2 cup)

  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste

  • 3 tablespoons capers, rinsed, drained, and roughly chopped

  • 1/4 cup golden raisins

  • 2 tablespoons sugar

  • 3 tablespoons red wine or balsamic vinegar

  • 1 cup canned whole peeled tomatoes with their juice, chopped into 1/4-inch pieces

  • Freshly ground black pepper

  • 3 bunches (about 2 1/2 pounds) broccoli rabe, thick stems trimmed, cut into 3-inch lengths

Directions

  1. Place eggplant on a large plate lined with a triple layer of paper towels or a clean kitchen towel. Season with salt. Top with another triple layer of paper towels or a clean kitchen towel. Top with another large plate. Microwave on high power until eggplant has lost most of its moisture and appears slightly shriveled, about 8 minutes.

  2. Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add onion and celery and cook, stirring frequently, until softened and translucent, about 8 minutes. Add eggplant and cook, stirring occasionally, until eggplant is starting to break down, about 5 minutes longer. Add tomato paste, capers, raisins, sugar, vinegar, and chopped tomatoes and stir to combine. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until reduced into a thick, stew-like consistency, about 20 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Set aside.

  3. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add broccoli rabe and cook until tender, about 6 minutes. Drain in a colander and transfer to a large bowl. Add eggplant mixture and toss to combine. Season to taste with salt, pepper, and more vinegar or sugar as desired. Serve.

Notes

Sweet and sour eggplant relish can be made ahead and stored in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
153Calories
9gFat
17gCarbs
5gProtein
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 8 to 10
Amount per serving
Calories153
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 9g11%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Cholesterol 0mg0%
Sodium 330mg14%
Total Carbohydrate 17g6%
Dietary Fiber 5g18%
Total Sugars 9g
Protein 5g
Vitamin C 28mg139%
Calcium 141mg11%
Iron 3mg16%
Potassium 435mg9%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

More Serious Eats Recipes