TABELIAAUTHENTIC RECIPE
Zucchine alla ScapeceNeapolitan Marinated Zucchini
A traditional Neapolitan antipasto of fried zucchini marinated with wine vinegar, mint and garlic. Resting for several hours or longer lets the acidity and aromas penetrate the vegetables.
AUTHENTICITY SCORE
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Ingredients (4 servings)
- ZucchiniCut into 5 mm rounds4 pieces
- White wine vinegar50 ml
- Fresh mintTear15 leaves
- GarlicThinly slice2 cloves
- Sunflower oil for frying400 ml
- Extra virgin olive oil30 ml
- Salta little
Method
Cut the vegetables
- 1 Cut 4 zucchini into rounds 5 mm thick.
- 2 Pat dry with paper towels.
- 3 Thinly slice 2 garlic cloves.
Fry the zucchini
- 1 Heat 400 ml frying oil to 170°C.
- 2 Fry the zucchini for 2–3 minutes on each side.
- 3 Once golden, remove to paper towels.
Ready when
Remove the zucchini when golden.
Layer in a container
- 1 Arrange the fried zucchini in a storage container.
- 2 Scatter with the garlic, 15 torn mint leaves and salt.
Ready when
Proceed when the aromatics are spread throughout.
Add vinegar and oil
- 1 Drizzle 50 ml white wine vinegar over everything.
- 2 Drizzle 30 ml olive oil over everything.
Marinate
- 1 Cover and marinate in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours.
- 2 Bring back to room temperature for 30 minutes before serving.
Ready when
It is ready when the acidity and aromas have penetrated throughout: at least 2 hours, ideally overnight.
About this dish
Zucchine alla scapece is one of the vegetable dishes that define summer in Naples. When markets are full of zucchini, it appears on family tables as a refreshing side dish with vinegar and mint.
In hot, humid southern Italy, people learned to rest vegetables in vinegar and enjoy them over several days. Scapece is a leading example, applied to zucchini, eggplant, fish and other ingredients. Pleasant chilled or at room temperature, it suits the summer table.
In Naples, scapece made the day before often appears on the next day’s table. It is prepared ahead, but time also develops its flavor, giving it a place in both busy home cooking and seasonal cooking.
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