The capuliato or ''capuliatu'', is a traditional condiment of
Sicilian cuisine
Sicilian cuisine is the style of cooking on the island of Sicily. It shows traces of all cultures that have existed on the island of Sicily over the last two millennia. Although its cuisine has much in common with Italian cuisine, Sicilian food a ...
based on dried
tomatoes
The tomato is the edible Berry (botany), berry of the plant ''Solanum lycopersicum'', commonly known as the tomato plant. The species originated in western South America, Mexico, and Central America. The Mexican Nahuatl word gave rise to th ...
, linked, in particular to the territory of the
Vittoria Plain, in
Free municipal consortium of Ragusa. The original name is capuliato which means minced.
History
Initially in
Europe
Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical size and the weight of its history and traditions. Europe is also considered a Continent#Subcontinents, subcontinent of Eurasia ...
the
tomato was used as an ornamental plant and it was only in the 19th century that it spread on a gastronomic level.
It is agreed that the capuliato (when referring to the dish as "spaghettata" and not as a condiment, usually, it is also called "capuliata")
was born and spread from
Vittoria,
where since its origins the territory was easily exploitable on an agricultural level.
Among the areas of diffusion of the product, Vittoria has always been by far the one with the greatest production and tradition of the tomato.
The city of Vittoria is home to the largest fruit and vegetable markets in
Italy
Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical re ...
and the most important in Italy and
Europe
Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical size and the weight of its history and traditions. Europe is also considered a Continent#Subcontinents, subcontinent of Eurasia ...
for tomatoes.
Its only hamlet (''
frazione
A ''frazione'' (plural: ) is a type of subdivision of a ''comune'' (municipality) in Italy, often a small village or hamlet outside the main town. Most ''frazioni'' were created during the Fascist era (1922–1943) as a way to consolidate territ ...
'') is the seaside locality of
Scoglitti
Scoglitti ( scn, Scugghitti) is a fishing village and hamlet () of Vittoria, a municipality in the Province of Ragusa, Sicily, Italy. In 2011 it had a population of 4,175.
History
Scoglitti found a niche in history after being selected by the All ...
. However the territory is very large and in addition to the urban area, it has 45 different contrade, mostly used for greenhouse cultivation.
The capuliato was born when the methods of preserving tomato sauce and greenhouse cultivation of the latter were not yet practiced. The recipe quickly spread to other areas of the province and nearby
Gela
Gela (Sicilian and ; grc, Γέλα) is a city and (municipality) in the Autonomous Region of Sicily, Italy; in terms of area and population, it is the largest municipality on the southern coast of Sicily. Gela is part of the Province of Cal ...
. As the tomatoes were not available in the winter, they were dried and processed in the warm months, usually July and August, and then conserved to season the pasta and bread throughout the year.
Preparation and use
The tomatoes are first washed, then cut, salted and dried in the sun. Subsequently they are ground, usually with a
meat grinder
A meat grinder (also called a "meat mincer" in the UK) is a kitchen appliance for fine chopping ('mincing') and/or mixing of raw or cooked meat, fish, vegetables or similar food. It replaces tools like the mincing knife (which are also use ...
and generally placed in oil, in a marinade that provides
basil
Basil (, ; ''Ocimum basilicum'' , also called great basil, is a culinary herb of the family Lamiaceae (mints). It is a tender plant, and is used in cuisines worldwide. In Western cuisine, the generic term "basil" refers to the variety also kno ...
or
oregano
Oregano (, ; ''Origanum vulgare'') is a species of flowering plant in the mint family Lamiaceae. It was native to the Mediterranean region, but widely naturalised elsewhere in the temperate Northern Hemisphere.
Oregano is a woody perennial pla ...
, and other flavors in addition depending on the tastes that can be for example
garlic
Garlic (''Allium sativum'') is a species of bulbous flowering plant in the genus ''Allium''. Its close relatives include the onion, shallot, leek, chive, Allium fistulosum, Welsh onion and Allium chinense, Chinese onion. It is native to South A ...
,
chili pepper
Chili peppers (also chile, chile pepper, chilli pepper, or chilli), from Nahuatl '' chīlli'' (), are varieties of the berry-fruit of plants from the genus ''Capsicum'', which are members of the nightshade family Solanaceae, cultivated for ...
.
The capuliato is mainly used to season pasta, bread or bruschetta, but also to flavor the stuffed focaccia typical of the
ragusano, the
scacce.
Most common recipes
The classic pasta al capuliato includes garlic, extra virgin olive oil and capuliato, with the addition of basil or parsley at the end (elements that, however, once were not easily available in winter). It can be enriched with fried bread crumbs, breadcrumbs, grated cheese and other condiments. Long pasta is indicated, the classic spaghetti n ° 5 is usually cooked.
The bread is filled with capuliato, extra virgin olive oil and ingredients such as
cheese
Cheese is a dairy product produced in wide ranges of flavors, textures, and forms by coagulation of the milk protein casein. It comprises proteins and fat from milk, usually the milk of cows, buffalo, goats, or sheep. During production, ...
, oregano or basil,
anchovies
An anchovy is a small, common forage fish of the family Engraulidae. Most species are found in marine waters, but several will enter brackish water, and some in South America are restricted to fresh water.
More than 140 species are placed in 1 ...
, chili pepper.
Industrial production
There are now several manufacturing companies, especially in Vittoria, the home of the capuliato, thanks to which the product is easily available in delicatessens or supermarkets throughout Sicily, especially in the south-east. The tradition of
homemade
Homemade may refer to:
*Handicraft, things that are made by hand
*''Homemade'', '' T4'' TV series 2006
*''HomeMADE'', Australian reality TV series 2009
*''Homemade TV'', a Canadian children's television series 1976 to 1977
* ''Homemade'' (album), ...
production still remains strong.
See also
*
Sun-dried tomato
Sun-dried tomatoes are ripe tomatoes that lose most of their water content after spending a majority of their drying time in the sun. These tomatoes are usually pre-treated with sulfur dioxide or salt before being placed in the sun in order to i ...
*
List of condiments
A condiment is a supplemental food (such as a sauce or powder) that is added to some foods to impart a particular flavor, enhance their flavor, or, in some cultures, to complement the dish, but that cannot stand alone as a dish. The term ''cond ...
Notes
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sun-Dried Tomato
Cuisine of Sicily
Tomato products
Condiments
Province of Ragusa