--- title: "Meatless Friday: Eggplant Caponata" description: Try Father Leo's flavorful eggplant recipe with a kick that will even have eggplant-haters satisfied with its deliciousness. --- [![catholic-mom-logo-v2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/images/catholic-mom-logo-v2.svg "catholic-mom-logo-v2")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) [![search-icon](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/search-icon.svg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2014/08/15/meatless-friday-eggplant-caponata#) # Meatless Friday: Eggplant Caponata Aug 15, 2014 11:00:00 AM  |  by [Guest](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/guest) [![Meatless Fridays at CatholicMom.com](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/meatless_friday_logo_800x400-550x275-100.png?width=550&height=275&name=meatless_friday_logo_800x400-550x275-100.png)](http://catholicmom.com/2014/01/03/meatless-friday-shrimp-quiche/meatless_friday_logo_800x400/) Today we're featuring a meatless recipe by Father Leo Patalinghug, a priest who loves to cook and who believes so strongly in the importance of the family meal that he's built a whole movement around it. [![Grace Before Meals logo](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Grace-Before-Meals-logo.png?width=222&height=129&name=Grace-Before-Meals-logo.png)](http://gracebeforemeals.com/) His [**Grace Before Meals**](http://gracebeforemeals.com/) website is a mix of recipes, videos, and articles that encourage families to share time around the table and be nourished:  body, mind and soul. Father Leo also hosts a weekly satellite-radio program, **[Entertaining Truth](http://www.siriusxm.com/thecatholicchannel)**, on Sirius XM's The Catholic Channel. Father Leo has generously given us permission to share his recipe here. ## Eggplant Caponata **INGREDIENTS:** [![Father Leo eggplant caponata](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Father-Leo-eggplant-caponata.jpg?width=225&height=210&name=Father-Leo-eggplant-caponata.jpg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Father-Leo-eggplant-caponata.jpg)1 large eggplant, cut into ¼ inch pieces 4 tablespoons olive oil 1 garlic clove, finely minced 1 pinch red-hot chili pepper flakes 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, minced ½ red onion, cut thinly 2-4 teaspoons salt 1 teaspoon black pepper 2-3 tablespoons white vinegar **DIRECTIONS:** Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large non-stick pan over high heat. Add eggplant, garlic, and pepper flakes. Allow this to cook, tossing or stirring until eggplant begins to caramelize. Add remaining olive oil, onions, and parsley and continue to sauté for about 2-4 minutes. Add white vinegar and salt and pepper to taste. Stir to cook all of the pieces evenly. Depending on how large the eggplant is, it may be necessary to add more oil; do so a little at a time. Reduce heat and allow to cook for another 3-5 minutes. Eggplant is perfectly cooked when it is soft, but retains its shape. Serve as a vegetarian main dish with steamed sticky rice. [![spicing-up-married-life__medium](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/spicing-up-married-life__medium-123x100.jpg?width=123&height=100&name=spicing-up-married-life__medium-123x100.jpg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/spicing-up-married-life__medium.jpg)[![gbm-sf__medium](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/gbm-sf__medium-123x100.jpg?width=123&height=100&name=gbm-sf__medium-123x100.jpg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/gbm-sf__medium.jpg)For more of Father Leo's recipes, visit [**Grace Before Meals**](http://gracebeforemeals.com/) or look for his cookbooks:  [*Grace Before Meals*](https://leomcwatkinsfilms.com/merchandise/grace-before-meals/) (which contains the famous fajita recipe featured on Bobby Flay's *Throwdown*) and [*Spicing Up Married Life*](https://leomcwatkinsfilms.com/merchandise/grace-before-meals/). *Copyright 2014 Father Leo Patalinghug at Grace Before Meals* ### Share this article [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2014%2F08%2F15%2Fmeatless-friday-eggplant-caponata%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2014%2F08%2F15%2Fmeatless-friday-eggplant-caponata%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2014%2F08%2F15%2Fmeatless-friday-eggplant-caponata%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=Meatless%20Friday%3A%20Eggplant%20Caponata) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2014%2F08%2F15%2Fmeatless-friday-eggplant-caponata%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2014%2F08%2F15%2Fmeatless-friday-eggplant-caponata%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ** #### About the Author ![Guest](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Profile%203.jpg) ### [Guest](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/guest) We welcome guest contributors who graciously volunteer their writing for our readers. 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To inquire about serving as a guest contributor, contact editor@CatholicMom.com. ## Related Blog Articles [ Meatless Friday: Vegetarian Stuffed Eggplant Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2018/11/02/meatless-friday-vegetarian-stuffed-eggplant/) [ Meatless Friday: Baba Ghanoush – Lebanese Eggplant Appetizer Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2015/07/24/baba-ghanoush-lebanese-eggplant-appetizer) [ Meatless Friday: Eggplant Parmesan Soup Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2019/09/20/meatless-friday-eggplant-parmesan-soup/) ## Comments ## Donate now [![Support Catholic Mom](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545) [![CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png?width=1806&height=731&name=CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png "CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) ##### Subscribe to Catholic Momcast on iTunes or Spotify [![itunes-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/itunes-logo-black.svg)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catholic-momcast/id1362352357)[![spotify-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/spotify-logo-black.svg)](https://open.spotify.com/show/15CoipHL7z61IDcYErV0b8?si=hqaQJSxDQgq7S1hxCwsoxQ) ##### CatholicMom on Social Networks [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) ##### About Catholic Mom [Who We Are](https://www.catholicmom.com/about-us) [Contact Us](https://www.catholicmom.com/contact) [Support CatholicMom.com](https://www.catholicmom.com/support-us)   ##### Associated Links [Holy Cross Family Ministries](https://www.hcfm.org/) [Family Rosary](https://www.familyrosary.org/) [Family Theater Productions](https://www.familytheater.org/) [Congregation of the Holy Cross](https://www.holycrossusa.org/) [Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C.](https://www.fatherpeyton.org/) [The Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life](https://www.peytonfamilyinstitute.org/) ### **Stay connected!** Don’t miss a thing! 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