Calabrian-Style Marinated Potatoes
These little potatoes simmered in garlic-infused olive oil with fiery Calabrian chili flakes and vinegar are bold, addictive, and surprisingly easy to make. The real magic happens overnight in the fridge — prepare them the evening before and let time do the rest.
🛒 Ingredients
2 servings
- 1 kg (2.2 lb) small waxy potatoes, unpeeled
- 1 whole head of garlic
- 1 large onion, grated
- 200 ml (¾ cup) extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 small packet dried Calabrian chili flakes (or red pepper flakes)
- 200 ml (¾ cup) white vinegar
- 4 bay leaves
- Salt to taste
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Directions
- 1
Scrub the potatoes thoroughly under cold running water without peeling them. Dry them very well with a clean kitchen towel — any moisture left on the skin will cause dangerous splattering in hot oil.
- 2
Heat the olive oil in a wide, heavy-bottomed pan over medium heat. Add the garlic cloves and sauté until they begin to turn golden.
- 3
Add the grated onion, chili flakes, finely chopped bay leaves, and a generous pinch of salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until everything is golden and fragrant.
- 4
Pour in the vinegar all at once and raise the heat to bring to a full boil.
- 5
Once boiling, carefully add the potatoes and reduce the heat to low. Do not stir with a spoon from this point on.
- 6
Keep the pan half-covered and gently swirl it by the handles every few minutes to coat the potatoes evenly in the marinade without breaking them.
- 7
Cook until the potatoes are just tender when pierced with a knife tip — al dente, not mushy. The skin should still hold its shape.
- 8
Allow to cool completely at room temperature, then transfer to sealed containers and refrigerate. Serve the next day for the fullest flavor.
💡 Chef's Tip
The no-stirring rule is essential — a spoon will break the potatoes apart. Use only a gentle pan-swirl to move them. And never skip the overnight rest: the vinegar-spice marinade needs that time to fully penetrate.
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