Insalata Pantesca

The “Insalata Pantesca” is a typical dish from the island of Pantelleria, which belongs to the Sicily region. It is one of the most famous salads in Italian cuisine and is appreciated for its freshness and the combination of Mediterranean flavors. Here’s the recipe for preparing the “Insalata Pantesca.”

Ingredients

• 500 g of potatoes
• 200 g of cherry tomatoes
• 100 g of desalted capers from Pantelleria
• 1 red onion from Tropea
• Black olives from Gaeta as needed
• Fresh oregano as needed
• Salt as needed
• Pepper as needed
• Extra virgin olive oil as needed

Preparation

1. Wash and boil the potatoes in plenty of salted water until they are soft, but still firm. Allow them to cool, then peel and slice them about half a centimeter thick.
2. Wash the cherry tomatoes and cut them in half or into quarters, depending on size.
3. Thinly slice the red onion from Tropea.
4. In a large bowl, mix the potatoes, cherry tomatoes, onion, capers, and olives. Season with extra virgin olive oil, salt, pepper, and hand-torn fresh oregano.
5. Let the salad rest for at least twenty minutes before serving to allow the flavors to blend well together.

Curiosity

The capers from Pantelleria are a Slow Food Presidium and are renowned for their unique and intense flavor, which is a result of the particular environmental and climatic conditions of the island. In this salad, they are enhanced to their best thanks to the simplicity of the other ingredients.

The “Insalata Pantesca” can be served as a starter or as a fresh and flavorful side dish during the summer months. Enjoy your meal!