Salt Cod with Potatoes and Olives

Salt cod with potatoes and olives is a traditional and comforting dish, combining maritime flavors with simple but rich-tasting ingredients. Here is the recipe for you:

Ingredients

• 600 g of soaked salt cod
• 800 g of potatoes
• 150 g of pitted black olives
• 2 cloves of garlic
• Parsley to taste
• 400 ml of tomato sauce
• Salt to taste
• Pepper to taste
• Extra virgin olive oil to taste

Preparation

1. First of all, make sure that the salt cod has been properly soaked, changing the water several times over 24-48 hours. This will eliminate the excess salt.
2. Dry the salt cod well and cut it into pieces of about 5 cm.
3. Peel the potatoes and cut them into not too small pieces.
4. Heat some extra virgin olive oil in a large pan and add the garlic cloves to brown them.
5. Add the pieces of salt cod to the oil and brown them for a few minutes on each side.
6. Remove the salt cod and in the flavored oil brown the potatoes until they begin to turn golden.
7. When the potatoes are semi-golden, add the salt cod back into the pan.
8. Add the tomato sauce, chopped parsley, and black olives. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
9. Cover and cook over low heat for about 30-40 minutes, until the potatoes are tender and the sauce has thickened a bit.
10. Check from time to time and, if necessary, add a little water to prevent the sauce from drying out too much or sticking.

While the dish is slowly cooking, the salt cod may release its own water, so it’s a good idea to adjust the sauce’s consistency as needed. At the end of cooking, the salt cod will be soft and the potatoes perfectly cooked in a thick and aromatic sauce.

Fun Fact

Salt cod, dried and salted, was a traditional method of fish preservation that allowed for long-term storage. Originating from northern Europe, it has become a strong part of Mediterranean cuisine, finding many regional variations in Italy, particularly in the south, in the way of preparing it.