Salt Cod Messina Style (Sicily)

Fish

Ingredients

Pre-soaked salt cod - 2 1/2 pounds

Olive - 1 1/4 cups

Onions, sliced - 2

Celery, diced - 2 stalks

Ripe tomatoes - 1 pound

Potatoes, peeled - 1 peeled

Pale green olives, pitted - 8-10 large

Capers - 2 1/2 tbsps

Pine nuts - 2 1/2 tbsps

Seedless white raisins - 4 tbsps

Salt and chili powder

Soak the cod under cold running water. Heat the oil in a deep frying pan and saute the onions and celery. Peel and chop the tomatoes, discarding seeds. As soon as the onions change color, add the tomatoes and about 1/2 cup warm water, and bring to a gentle boil.

Cut the cod into large pieces of fairly equal size, removing skin and bones, and cut the potatoes into quarters. Add them both to the pan, together with the olives, capers, pine nuts and white raisins. Add very little salt and plenty of chili powder. Cook gently for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon. If the sauce is too thick, add a little more warm water. Serve very hot

Serves 6