Patate Apparecchiate, Sicilian Potatoes, plus Onions and Olives

Patate Apparecchiate is a good Sicilian salad or side dish made with potatoes, onion, capers, and olives in a sweet and sour dressing. It's good served warm or at room temperature any time of the year.

We love this Sicilian potato dish. It's a traditional dish from Siracusa (or Syracuse) and it's so simple to make.

The potatoes are pan-fried alongside onion, capers, olives and oregano and then tossed in a simple agrodolce dressing, which is a simple sweet and sour dressing made with vinegar and sugar.

We love to serve this at room temperature or slightly warm because the flavours are so much more elevated, and it's solid served with meat or fish.

See the full recipe below, including serving suggestions and our top tips, enjoy!

Ingredient notes

• Potatoes – We don't recommend using waxy potatoes for this. We used Maris Piper, which are common in the UK. Russet will also work well.
• Onions – you can use brown or white onions
• Olives – traditionally green olives are used, but any good olives will do.
• Capers – we use capers jarred in brine.
• Agrodolce dressing – a simple mix of white wine vinegar and white sugar. You could use red wine vinegar instead, although it has a slightly different flavour.
• Oregano – oregano is traditionally added and we love it. If you're looking for an alternative, then rosemary or thyme would be good.

Recipe tips and FAQs

Don't have the heat too high – when first browning the potatoes, don't have the heat up too high or they will brown too quickly and may stick to the pan. We find that a medium-low heat is best.

Potatoes sticking – if your potatoes and onions are sticking or drying out at the second stage of cooking (when covered) you can add a splash of water (around 2 tablespoons).

Add garlic – for a hint of garlic, add 1-2 whole, peeled cloves while frying the potatoes, then remove them before covering.

Can we prep this in advance?

Yes, you can prepare the whole dish and keep it stored in the fridge for up to 3 days. The salad is good when eaten at room temperature.

Serving suggestions

We love to serve patate apparecchiate with fish such as baked salmon or sea bass, but it's equally as good served with grilled chicken or alongside sides and salads (think aperitivo or BBQ).

More potato dishes to try

Sides

Patate alla Lucana (Italian Potato Gratin)

Sides

Pipi e Patati (Calabrian Peppers and Potatoes)

Salads

Insalata Pantesca (Sicilian Potato Salad)

Antipasti

Gattò di Patate (Neapolitan Potato Gateau)

Ingredients

Makes 4 - 6 servings

• 2 lbs (900g) potatoes ((such as Maris Piper or Russet))
• 1 large brown or white onion
• ½ cup (70g) green olives
• 2 tablespoons capers (jarred in brine)
• 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
• 1.5 teaspoons white sugar
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 3-4 tablespoons olive oil
• Salt and pepper

Method

1. Peel the potatoes and cut them into medium to small-sized cubes. Put them in a bowl of cold water to soak for 10 minutes.

2. Meanwhile, put the vinegar and sugar in a small bowl and set aside, then finely slice the onion.

3. Drain the potatoes and dry them thoroughly in a clean kitchen towel.

4. Add 3-4 tablespoons of olive oil to a large pan on a medium heat. Add the potatoes to the pan and fry them until slightly golden (about 20-25 minutes).

5. Once golden, add the sliced onions with a good pinch of salt and pepper and stir to combine. Cover the pan with a lid and cook on medium-low until the potatoes and onions are cooked through (about 15-20 minutes). Give it a stir from time to time to make sure it doesn't catch on the bottom.

6. Uncover the pan and add the oregano, olives, capers and vinegar dressing. Stir until everything is combined then turn off the heat. Taste for seasoning and add more salt if needed.

7. This dish is best served warm or at room temperature.

Kitchen notes

• Storage will keep well in the fridge for up to 3 days.