Reinforcement Salad is a traditional Christmas side dish not only in Naples but also in other provinces of Campania. This dish is one of the most important courses on the holiday table. Traditionally prepared for Christmas Eve, it is reinforced with other ingredients until New Year’s Day. The original recipe is not strict and varies from family to family, but the main ingredients remain cauliflower, pickled round peppers known as Papaccelle, giardiniera, green and black olives, anchovy fillets, and capers. To highlight the freshness and flavor of this dish, it’s best prepared the day before and left to rest in the fridge. Reinforcement Salad pairs perfectly with fish dishes. Follow the procedure and prepare it with me . . .
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- Difficulty: Easy
- Cost: Economical
- Rest time: 1 Day
- Preparation time: 15 Minutes
- Portions: 4 People
- Cooking methods: No Cooking
- Cuisine: Regional Italian
- Region: Campania
- Seasonality: Christmas, New Year
- Energy 179.25 (Kcal)
- Carbohydrates 9.51 (g) of which sugars 3.85 (g)
- Proteins 6.52 (g)
- Fat 14.09 (g) of which saturated 2.32 (g)of which unsaturated 5.13 (g)
- Fibers 4.24 (g)
- Sodium 1,589.65 (mg)
Indicative values for a portion of 235 g processed in an automated way starting from the nutritional information available on the CREA* and FoodData Central** databases. It is not food and / or nutritional advice.
* CREATES Food and Nutrition Research Center: https://www.crea.gov.it/alimenti-e-nutrizione https://www.alimentinutrizione.it ** U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. FoodData Central, 2019. https://fdc.nal.usda.gov
Ingredients
- 14 oz cauliflower (florets only, blanched for 8 minutes)
- 1 cup giardiniera
- 2.8 oz green olives (pitted)
- 2.8 oz black olives (pitted)
- 1.8 oz anchovies in oil
- 0.7 oz pickled capers
- 1.4 oz pickled gherkins
- 3.5 oz Neapolitan papaccelle (or pickled yellow and red peppers)
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tbsp white wine vinegar (optional)
Tools
- Kitchen Scale
- Bowl
Steps
Wash the cauliflower, separate the florets and blanch them in salted boiling water for 8 minutes. Once cooked but still crispy, drain them, cool under cold water, and let them drain. Place the drained anchovies in a large bowl and break them into pieces. Slice the peppers and add them to the anchovies.
Add the pitted olives, giardiniera with larger ingredients cut into pieces, capers, and gherkins. Dress with oil, vinegar (if you like a stronger taste), and adjust the salt. Mix the reinforcement salad well and let it rest in the refrigerator before serving.
Tips
The cauliflower florets should be cooked but still crispy
If you can’t find papaccelle, the typical Campanian peppers, you can substitute them with pickled red and yellow peppers
Prepare the reinforcement salad the day before so the flavors have time to blend
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
What are Papaccelle
They are small, round, and flattened peppers (typical of Campania) preserved whole in vinegar.
How long does the Reinforcement Salad last?
The Reinforcement Salad can last from Christmas Eve until New Year’s Day if stored in an airtight container.
