Peperoni e patate / Pipi e patate (peppers and potatoes) - Calabria
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
The simplicity of the dish is deceptive as the resulting flavours are complex and anything but simple. The key here is to use flavoursome peppers. Another name for this dish is patate 'mpacchiuse cu i pipi. Patate 'mpacchiuse means potatoes which stick together referring to the way the potatoes cook in a small amount of oil rather than if they were fried in lots of oil and stayed separate. Potatoes from Sila are known for being particularly delicious. Pipi means "peppers" in Calabrian dialect and in this recipe, sweet peppers are used. Chillies, known as pipi vruscente in Calabrian dialect, can also be added. Both versions are delicious. Other options are to add sausage or mushrooms.
Author: Woo Wei-Duan
Recipe type: Side dish (Contorno)
Cuisine: Calabria
Serves: 8
Ingredients
- 1 kilopotatoes, peeled (optional) and cut into 1 cm thick rounds or into 2 cm thick wedges, soaked in cold water
- 350 grams red peppers, rinsed, the stem, seeds and white interior ribs removed and cut into 2 cm strips (can use green peppers or a mixture of colours)
- 1 small onion (preferably a red Tropea onion, but 2 green onions can also be used), skin and ends removed and cut into strips
- 2 large pinches dried oregano
- 60 mls extra-virginolive oil
- Sea salt
- Black pepper
Instructions
- Pour the oil in the bottom of a large frying pan. Add the onion, peppers, potatoes and oregano. Add salt and pepper to taste. Heat the pan over medium heat and use a spatula to turn the ingredients to combine.
- Cover and cook for 10 minutes.
- Remove the cover and cook for another 10 minutes, turning the ingredients over with a spatula to ensure they are browning evenly. Adjust the seasonings and serve.
