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Ciambotta
Summer vegetable stew
Ciambotta: Basilicata and Campania's one-pot summer stew of peppers, aubergine, potato and tomato
In August, when the vegetable gardens of Basilicata and the Cilento are overflowing, families make ciambotta: peppers, aubergines, potatoes, courgettes, onion and tomato stewed slowly together in olive oil until soft and sweet. Farmworkers once ate it in the fields with bread; today it's a summer supper, eaten warm or at room temperature, sometimes with an egg cracked on top. Chef's tip: add the vegetables in stages, potatoes first and courgettes last; that way they all finish tender at the same time without any turning to mush.
- Total time
- 60 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 onionsliced
- 2 medium potatoespeeled and cut into 2 cm cubes
- 1 auberginecut into 2 cm cubes
- 2 red and yellow pepperscut into strips
- 1 courgettecut into chunks
- 2 cloves garlicsliced
- 10 basil leaves
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 pinch chilli flakesopt
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Heat 4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil in a wide pan and cook 1 onion and 2 cloves garlic for 5 minutes, until soft.
5 minStep 2: Add 2 medium potatoes and cook for 5 minutes, stirring. Add 2 red and yellow peppers and 1 aubergine and cook for 5 minutes more.
10 minStep 3: Add 14 oz ripe tomatoes or tinned chopped tomatoes, 1 tsp salt, 1 pinch chilli flakes, if using, and a splash of water. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes.
15 minStep 4: Add 1 courgette and cook for 10 minutes more, until all the vegetables are tender when pierced and the sauce is thick. Common mistake: stirring too much; the vegetables break up. Shake the pan gently instead.
10 minStep 5: Stir in 10 basil leaves and rest for 10 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 220 kcal
- Protein
- 5 g
- Carbs
- 28 g
- Fat
- 10 g
- Fibre
- 7 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does ciambotta take?
- About 60 minutes in total: 20 minutes to prepare and 40 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of onion?
- 2 shallots per onion.
- What can I use instead of medium potatoes?
- Sweet potato, same weight (sweeter, cooks a little faster).
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