Caponata (Sweet And Sour Eggplant) – Oracibo

Ingredients

• 2 lbs. eggplant
• 2 Tbsp. + 1 tsp. coarse sea salt
• EVOO oil for frying the eggplant
• 11 garlic cloves, chopped
• 2 Tbsp. tomato paste
• 1 28 oz. tin Italian tomatoes, finely chopped, juice reserved
• 5 celery ribs, cut into ½” pieces
• 1 large onion
• 1 red or yellow bell pepper, cut into ½” pieces, or half of each colour
• 1 cup (6 oz.) green olives (Sicilian or Greek olives) in brine, pitted, cut into ¼” pieces or so
• ¼ cup salted capers, rinsed well
• 1/3 cup red-wine vinegar
• ¼ cup sugar
• ½ tsp. freshly ground black pepper
• ¼ cup chopped flat-leaf parsley
• ¼ cup chopped fresh basil
• 1/3 cup golden raisins (optional)
• toasted pine-nuts or slivered almonds (optional)