Pasta and potatoes

This soup is another classic Bari dish. If you ask a Barese what their favourite dishes are, they’ll usually mention Pasta e Patate. Serves 4

Pasta and potatoes ingredients

• 500g potatoes, peeled and diced
• 200g ditali
• 100g  polpa di pomodoro or tinned chopped tomatoes
• 1 celery heart, chopped
• 1 clove  garlic, peeled and squashed (but still whole)
• olive oil
• salt and pepper

1. Brown the garlic in 4 tablespoons of olive oil. Remove the garlic and discard.
2. Add the potatoes and celery and cook for a couple of minutes.
3. Add the tomatoes and season with salt and pepper
4. Add water so that all the ingredients are covered
5. Cook until the potatoes are starting to fall apart.
6. Half cook the pasta in plenty of salted boiling water
7. Add the pasta to the potato mixture and continue cooking until done.
8. If the soup is too thick, add a little of the pasta cooking liquid.