Fried Bologna And Caponata Food

SICILIAN CAPONATA RECIPE

Steps:

• Sprinkle the eggplant with salt and put in a colander over a bowl for 20-30 minutes. Rinse with water and transfer the eggplant to a large clean towel and pat dry with paper towel.
• In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add the extra virgin olive oil, toss the potatoes and cook them until golden brown stirring occasionally.
• Once the potatoes are ready, transfer them to a medium bowl lined with layers of paper towel and set aside. Discard the oil and clean the pan.
• In the same skillet add another 5 tablespoons of olive oil and start frying the bell peppers until soft. Transfer to the bowl with the potatoes and set aside. Discard the oil and clean the pan.
• In the same skillet add another 5 tablespoons of olive oil and fry the eggplant. Watch it while it cooks, as it may need more oil. When it's soft, transfer the cooked eggplant to the bowl with the other vegetables and set aside. Discard the oil and clean the pan.
• Return skillet to heat, add olive oil, onions and celery and cook, stirring continuously to allow caramelization for 10 minutes.
• Reduce heat to medium, add tomato sauce and continue cooking for 10 minutes stirring occasionally.
• Stir in olives, vinegar, capers, sugar and all the fried vegetables and mix together. Cook slowly for a couple of minutes while mixing gently.
• Turn off the heat, add the chopped basil and mix and let it cool at room temperature.
• Serve with a piece of toasted bread of your choice.

FRIED BOLOGNA SANDWICH

Steps:

• Spread one slice of bread with mayonnaise and the other slice with yellow mustard.
• Heat a medium skillet or griddle pan over medium-high heat. Make a 1-inch X in the center of each piece of bologna to keep it from curling up in the skillet. Wipe the skillet with a stick of butter until lightly greased. Add the bologna and fry a couple of minutes on each side until browned. Stack up the bologna in the skillet and top with the cheese. Cover with a large inverted bowl and heat until melted.
• Transfer the bologna to one of the slices of bread. Top with the chow chow, potato chips and lettuce. Top with the other slice of bread and give it a little push to crush the potato chips down a bit. Enjoy immediately.

FRIED BOLOGNA AND CAPONATA

Steps:

• Sprinkle the eggplant with the salt after being prepared and washed and let stand in a colander for 20 to 30 minutes.
• Run under water then blot dry. Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a large fry pan.
• Place the eggplant in the pan and cook, until soft and to a golden tender, about 25 minutes. Remove the eggplant from the pan.
• Add the onions and garlic to the pot and cook, stirring often for three to four minutes, or until soft.
• Add the tomatoes, paste celery, and green olives. Cook for about 15 minutes or until the celery is tender.
• Return the eggplant to the pot. Add the capers, wine, and sugar heat till sugar is dissolved.
• Pour over the eggplant mixture. Season to taste with salt, black pepper. Cook over medium heat for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• In a separate fry pan, cut one pound of bologna up into square pieces. Fry until golden and some of the edges are crispy.
• Just before the bologna is done add 2 cups of caponata to the bologna heat thoroughly.
• At this point, you can get some thick Italian bread to make your sandwich.
• Note: This Caponata can also be served plain without the meat over pasta, on garlic toast, or over rice.

CAPONATA

Steps:

• Pour the olive oil into a large heavybased saucepan or casserole, place over a medium heat and add the aubergines. Cook for a good 15-20 mins until they are soft. Scoop the aubergines out of the pan - you should be left with some olive oil. Add the shallots and cook for about 5 mins until they are soft and translucent. Add the tomatoes and cook slowly, so they break down and turn to a soft mush, then add the aubergines back to the pan. Now put in the capers, raisins, celery and vinegar, season well and cover with a lid. Cook over a low heat for 40 mins, until all the vegetables are soft. Stir gently so it doesn't break up too much; the stew should smell sweet and sour.
• When the caponata is cooked, leave to cool slightly while you make the bruschetta. Heat a griddle pan, drizzle the bread with olive oil and griddle until toasted and lightly charred on both sides, then rub with a garlic clove and season. Serve the warm caponata scattered with the basil leaves and pine nuts, with bruschetta on the side.