Caponata is a classic Sicilian eggplant dish known for its vibrant mix of sweet and sour flavors. It combines eggplant with ingredients like tomatoes, capers, olives, and vinegar and you can have it hot or cold.
Here are my 15 tried-and-tested ideas for side dishes that pair wonderfully with caponata. You can find everything from light and healthy dishes, to rich and indulgent ones.
The best dishes to serve with caponata are crostini, fresh pappardelle, croque monsieur, and polenta. You can also go with pan-seared lamb chops, chicken Milanese, oven-roasted potatoes, crepes, baked cod, or burrata. For an unexpected but tasty option, try bacon and cheddar quiche.
Crostini
Crostinis are one of the easiest sides you can make.
Just slice up a crusty baguette, toast the slices in the oven and you’re ready to serve.
The exact toasting time will depend on how high your oven can go. Crank it up to 400F to have crunchy crostinis ready in eight minutes.
Slather your caponata over these crostinis for the perfect appetizer or snack.
Why we love this recipe: it’s super budget friendly and a great way to use up stale bread.
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Crostini
Go Italian
Focaccia bread
Go Mediterranean
Pita bread
Croque Monsieur
This French dish is a fancier spin on the plain old ham and cheese sandwich.
It’s usually topped with a bechamel, but this recipe takes a shortcut and mixes grated cheese with a few tablespoons of cream to create a gooey topping.
You can spread the caponata inside the sandwich, or just use it as a dip. Either way its sour notes will be an excellent contrast to the rich toastie.
Why we love this recipe: it’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.
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Croque Monsieur
Keep it simple
Grilled cheese sandwich
Make a favorite
Philly cheesesteak
Fresh pappardelle
You only need three ingredients to make fresh pasta – eggs, flour, and semolina.
And if you go for pappardelle, you don’t even need a pasta maker.
Just roll out the dough nice and thinly then cut it into wide slices.
Enjoy your fresh pasta with caponata as a sauce for a hearty and healthy Italian feast.
Why we love this recipe: you can make a big batch and freeze the extra, so you’ll always have fresh pasta ready to use.
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Homemade pappardelle pasta
Make it fun
Homemade spinach pasta
Make another Italian favorite
Homemade gnocchi
Burrata
I’ve never been one to follow the crowd, but I’m all about it when it comes to burrata.
The centerpiece cheese will elevate your caponata into a dinner-party-worthy dish.
And it will taste great.
Why we love this recipe: you don’t really need a recipe – just plop the cheese on top of your sauce!
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What is burrata
Make a classic
Homemade mozzarella cheese
Keep it simple
Garlic and herb cream cheese
Cheesy garlic polenta
Cheesy polenta is the perfect starchy base for your caponata.
Its creaminess will balance out your caponata’s savory, sweet, and sour flavors.
Plus, the pale yellow color makes a great backdrop for the rich, deep colors of your caponata.
And the best part?
Most of the ingredients are cupboard staples.
Why we love this recipe: it’s comfort food heaven.
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Cheesy garlic polenta
Skip the stove
Polenta casserole
Make it crispy
Baked polenta fries
Baked cod
Looking for a light protein to go with your caponata?
You can’t go wrong with baked cod.
It’s packed with good-for-you vitamins making it super healthy. And it will be ready in less than 15 minutes.
I like to keep the seasoning simple with fish – a spritz of lemon and a quick dusting of cayenne pepper is all it needs.
Why we love this recipe: it has a 4.5 rating from 1954 reviews.
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Baked cod
Add heat
Blackened cod
Make a classic
Crispy skin salmon
Crepes
Skip the lemon and sugar and make brunch more interesting with caponata crepes.
This French classic is made with simple ingredients, but the trick to perfect crepes is to mix the batter in a blender.
This will ensure the batter is extra airy and has zero lumps.
Psst… make enough for seconds!
Why we love this recipe: it’s easy but will still impress your guests.
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Basic crepes
Make it low-carb
Keto almond flour crepes
Make it cheesy
Cheddar cheese waffles
Oven-roasted potatoes
These roasted potatoes are another excellent starchy accompaniment for caponata.
The recipe recommends a two-part method (boiling then roasting) to yield the crispiest but fluffiest roasted spuds you’ll ever have.
Pro tip: never overcrowd the pan when you want a crispy result. Overcrowding leads to steaming!
Why we love this recipe: these are highly addictive.
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Oven-roasted potatoes
Make it effortless
Baked potato
Make it different
Hasselback potatoes
Homemade porchetta
Traditional porchetta usually involves deboning a whole pig, but if you don’t have time for that you can use pork belly.
The meat is stuffed with a blend of herbs, spices, garlic, and orange zest, rolled skin side up, then roasted in an extra-hot oven.
Delicious and decadent – it’s crying out for a tangy side like caponata to cut through the fattiness.
Why we love this recipe: it’s a show-stopping main dish.
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Homemade porchetta
Keep it simple
Pork tenderloin roast
Ditch the oven
Pan-fried pork chops
Parmiggiano crackers
These homemade cheese crackers are great for dipping.
They’re lightly crisp, with a sharp, nutty flavor thanks to the Parmigiano-Reggiano and crushed peppercorns.
And if you think these are too plain, you can add in extra seasoning like rosemary, paprika, hot peppers, or even sliced black olives.
Why we love this recipe: they won’t break as soon as you try and scoop up some caponata.
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Parmiggiano crackers
Make it easy
Parmesan crisps
Make it healthy
Crunchy seed crackers
Bacon and cheddar quiche
I wasn’t a big fan of quiche until I tried this recipe.
Instead of a traditional pie crust this recipe uses hash browns to surround the savory egg filling.
How cool!
Psst… you’ll need a springform pan to make this, but it’s totally worth it.
Top this delicious quiche with a spoonful of tangy caponata for a brunch to remember
Why we love this recipe: everyone will be asking for the recipe to take home.
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Hash brown crust bacon and cheddar quiche
Make a classic
Quiche lorraine
Skip the crust
Cheesy mushroom frittata
Pan-seared lamb chops
If you’re serious about cooking lamb chops, you need a cast-iron skillet.
Unlike other non-stick pans, a cast-iron can withstand high heat, which will help give the lamb chops that gorgeous sear without overcooking them.
Pair these lamb chops with a serving of caponata and a glass of red wine to create an Insta-worthy meal.
Psst… want to reheat your lamb chops? Check out my guide.
Why we love this recipe: it looks like a dish that belongs in a restaurant.
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Pan-seared lamb chops
Preheat the oven
Slow-roasted leg of lamb
Make it different
Greek lamb meatballs
Caponata pizza
This isn’t technically a side but I couldn’t leave it out.
Caponata makes an excellent pizza topping!
Instead of tomato, the base is ricotta and then the caponata is spread around on top.
I like to have a few slices with a simple arugula salad on the side.
Why we love this recipe: it’s fun to make and even more fun to eat.
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Caponata flatbread pizza
Go classic
Caponata and mozzarella pizza
Make it unique
Squash and mushroom caponata pizza
Saffron risotto
Saffron risotto, known as ‘Risotto alla Milanese’ in Italy, is a dish that’s as luxurious as it is comforting. The key ingredient, saffron, gives the dish a beautiful golden color and a distinctive flavor that’s earthy and delicate at the same time.
Spoon some caponata on top of the risotto for a lavish, dinner party worth main.
Psst… if you can afford to get real saffron, definitely splurge here.
Why we love this recipe: it brings a touch of elegance to any table.
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Saffron risotto
Lighten it up
Lemon and asparagus risotto
Add a protein
Risotto with seared scallops
Focaccia bread
There’s nothing quite like pulling a pan of freshly baked focaccia bread out of the oven. The promise of soft, airy bread with a crisp, golden crust fills me with joy and I can’t wait to tuck in.
Another great things about focaccia is how versatile it is. You can top it with everything from sea salt and herbs to olives and sun-dried tomatoes. It’s also the perfect canvas for soaking up the bold flavors of caponata.
Why we love this recipe: it’s simple to make and impressive to serve.
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Classic rosemary focaccia
Make it unique
Caramelized onion and fig focaccia
Go for sweet
Chocolate focaccia
What To Serve With Caponata [15 Ideas]
Ingredients
- 1 portion caponata
Instructions
- Prepare your caponata according to your favorite recipe.
- In the meantime, choose one of the following sides to serve alongside it.
- Side dishes include: crostini, croque monsieur, fresh pappardelle, burrata, cheesy garlic polenta, baked cod, crepes, oven-roasted potatoes, homemade porchetta, parmiggiano crackers, bacon and cheddar quiche, pan-seared lamb chops, and caponata pizza.
- Serve immediately and enjoy!
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