Definition

A dish made with eggplant and various vegetables, often including pine nuts and anchovies, cooked in olive oil and typically served cold as a starter or side dish.

Example

We enjoyed a delicious caponata as an appetizer at the Italian restaurant.

Conversation

Have you ever tried caponata before?

Yes, I had it at that Italian restaurant last week!

What did you think of the caponata?

I loved it! The flavors were so rich and delicious.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Caponata originates from Italian, specifically from the Sicilian dialect, where it refers to a type of eggplant dish. The word is derived from 'caponata', which is believed to be related to 'capon', referring to a type of castrated rooster, as the dish was traditionally served with capon meat. Thus, caponata refers to a dish that may have originally included capon, but has evolved to be primarily a vegetable dish, particularly featuring eggplant.

Memory Tip

Imagine a traditional Italian dish that originally included capon (a type of rooster) but has transformed into a delicious vegetable medley, especially with eggplant. This helps you remember that caponata is a flavorful vegetable dish.

Visually Confused Words