Stir-fried zucchini and potatoes, commonly called zucchine e patate in Italian, is a popular, inexpensive Italian recipe that never seems to miss its target. This simple, hearty yet flavourful dish is the ultimate vegan-friendly meal. While perfect as a main, it can be used as a side with pork chops or sausages. No matter how you like to eat it, the best part will always be mopping up your plate scarpeta-style with a loaf of crusty bread.

The secret to this recipe lies in cooking the ingredients separately and then mixing them, allowing the preparation to take on its full flavour. Ideally, the consistency should not be too wet, nor too dry.

Ingredients

• 3-4 medium zucchini, diced
• 4-6 large potatoes, diced
• 6 fresh tomatoes, diced with seeds removed
• 400g canned San Marzano tomatoes, diced with seeds removed
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• parsley and/or basil to taste
• salt and pepper to taste

Preparation

For the potatoes

Rub a pan with a clove of garlic. Add olive oil and heat. Add the potatoes and stir until coated. Then cover with water, adding a pinch of salt. Cook until potatoes are tender (about 10-15 minutes) mixing from time to time, adding water if necessary. The starch from the potatoes will thicken the broth mixture.

For the Zucchini

Quarter the zucchini lengthwise and remove the seeds (if large). Then cut the zucchini sticks into medium-sized pieces. Heat a little olive oil in a frying pan and cook zucchini over medium heat until golden (about 10 minutes). Do not overcook. They should still be slightly crunchy.

For the tomatoes sauce

Prepare the sauce in a large saucepan by browning the onion and garlic clove in olive oil. Add the diced tomatoes and cook for about 5-7 minutes. Stir in puréed canned tomatoes, mixing well, and cook for another 10 minutes over medium-low heat.

When the sauce is ready, combine all ingredients. Add salt, pepper and chopped parsley to taste. Simmer everything for about another ten minutes so that the flavours extend throughout the dish. Serve hot or warm, adding some hot peppers for those that like it spicy.