This Southern Italian Potato Recipe, with crushed tomatoes and onions, is an easy Mediterranean side dish. Serve this baked potato dish with meat, chicken or fish.
Once you try this recipe, you will agree that this is one of the best potato dishes ever!
If you recall, this is not the first time we combined potatoes and tomatoes to make a delicious side dish.
In this recipe for Mediterranean Vegetable Bake, fresh Italian plum tomatoes are baked with potatoes and then topped with breadcrumbs and cheese.
Today, we are using a combination of canned tomatoes (can also use frozen tomatoes) and sliced onions with red potatoes. A grated cheese topping is optional.
Healthy, nutritious and delicious.
You won’t believe how flavorful these simple, wholesome ingredients become when they are baked together.
Mise en place
Before we can assemble our dish, we need to peel about 3 pounds of red potatoes. This is roughly 9 medium red potatoes. Cut equally into wedges and place them into a large bowl of water while prepping the rest of the ingredients.
Next, thinly slice one onion and mince about 4 cloves of garlic.
Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C).
Place the oven grate on the lower center rack, which is the second from the bottom.
Instructions
Empty a can of 28 ounces (796 mL ) of whole peeled canned tomatoes in a large bowl. Add 1 cup of water to the can, swirl it around and add the contents back to the bowl with the tomatoes.
Crush the tomatoes with your hands.
To this, add the 4 cloves of minced garlic, 2 teaspoons of dried oregano, 1½ teaspoons of paprika, salt, and pepper to taste. (I used 1½ teaspoons salt and ⅛ teaspoon of freshly ground pepper). Combine properly together.
Drain the water from the potatoes.
Add the sliced onions and crushed tomatoes and mix them.
Transfer the mixture to a large deep baking dish (10.5 x 14.75 inches).
Arrange the potatoes and vegetables in a single layer—drizzle 4 tablespoons of olive oil over the top.
Cover with aluminum foil and bake for about 45-60 minutes or until a knife can easily pierce through the potato. Gently move the potatoes around in the baking pan.
Bake for another 15-20 minutes, without the foil or until most of the moisture has evaporated from the tomato sauce. Stir occasionally.
Transfer to a serving dish, garnish with fresh chopped parsley and serve.
OPTIONAL: Garnish with grated pecorino romano cheese or parmesan cheese.
Tips
- Cutting the potatoes uniformly will ensure even baking.
- Use a large baking dish to spread the potatoes evenly in a single layer.
- The long baking time reduces the “acidity” of the tomatoes.
- This potato recipe is the perfect side dish to serve at family gatherings.
What’s the best type of potatoes for this recipe?
Red skinned potatoes are best because:
- they have a waxy and firm texture;
- will stay firm and retain their shape throughout the roasting time and
- have a full flavor with a hint of sweetness.
How to choose the best potatoes
Choose potatoes that are firm and smooth. Avoid potatoes that have wilted skins or are wrinkled. Also, choose potatoes that have a uniform shape to prevent having too much waste when peeling them.
How many potatoes are in one pound?
There are usually 3 medium potatoes or 10 small potatoes in one pound of potatoes.
What’s the best way to slice these potatoes?
You can cut them into slices, wedges, or chunks. Cut them the same size so that they cook evenly.
How do I store leftover potatoes?
Cover and refrigerate leftover potatoes for 3 days. It can be reheated in the microwave or the oven.
Potato side dishes we love
- Italian Potato Croquettes
- Crispy Oven Roasted Potatoes
- Smashed Fingerling Potatoes
- Italian Potato Salad
- Roasted Small Potatoes
- Roasted Red Potatoes
Recipe inspiration
Once again, it’s back to my Italian upbringing for this rustic recipe of Italian potatoes with tomatoes and onions.
My mom would make this vegetable side dish as a contorno (side dish) whenever she would make grilled meats and roasts.
If you are looking for potato side dishes for fish, this was the recipe my mom would make to serve alongside all of the fish recipes served on Christmas Eve, including this Baked Codfish recipe.
There are countless variations of this simple side dish. What is important is that you use red potatoes so that they do not turn to mush when you are ready to serve them.
I recently made a variation of this recipe with my friend Carlo, a professional chef. If you would like to see how it is made, head on over to YouTube. Just click on the following link and be sure to subscribe to the YouTube channel.
THANKS SO MUCH for following and being part of the She Loves Biscotti community where you will find Simple & Tasty Family-Friendly Recipes with an Italian Twist.
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Ciao for now,
Maria
★★★★★ If you have made these Potatoes in Tomato Sauce, I would love to hear about it in the comments below and be sure to rate the recipe!
Italian Potato Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 pounds red potatoes 9 medium
- 1 onion thinly sliced
- 28 ounces whole peeled canned tomatoes 796 mL can
- 1 cup water
- 4-5 garlic cloves minced
- 2 teaspoons oregano dried
- 1½ teaspoons paprika
- 1½ teaspoons salt
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
- 4 tablespoons olive oil extra virgin
- 3 tablespoons Italian flat-leaf parsley fresh and finely chopped
- pecorino romano cheese or parmesan cheese to garnish, if desired
Instructions
- Peel and cut potatoes into wedges.
- Place the potatoes in a large bowl of cold water while prepping the rest of the ingredients.
- Thinly slice the onion. Set aside.
- Mince the garlic. Set aside.
- Preheat oven to 425° F (220° C).
- Place oven grate on the lower center rack.
- Empty the can of whole peeled canned tomatoes in a large bowl.
- Add one cup of water to the can, swirl and empty contents in the bowl.
- Hand crush the tomatoes.
- Add the minced garlic, dried oregano, paprika and salt and pepper. Feel free to adjust seasonings. Combine together and set aside.
- Drain the water from the potatoes.
- Add the sliced onions and crushed tomatoes and combine.
- Toss the sliced onions with the potato wedges in a large deep baking dish (10.5 x 14.75 inches).
- Arrange the potatoes and vegetables in a single layer, in the baking dish.
- Drizzle olive oil over the top.
- Cover with aluminum foil and bake for about 45-60 minutes or until a knife can easily pierce through the potato. Gently move the potatoes to the baking pan.
- Bake for another 15-20 minutes, without the foil or until most of the moisture has evaporated from the tomato sauce. Stir occasionally.
- Transfer to a serving dish, garnish with fresh chopped parsley and serve.
- OPTIONAL: Garnish with grated pecorino romano cheese or parmesan cheese.
Notes
- Cutting the potatoes uniformly will ensure even baking.
- Use a large baking dish in order to spread the potatoes evenly, in a single layer.
- The long baking time reduces the "acidity" of the tomatoes.
- This potato recipe is the perfect side dish to serve at family gatherings.
- they have a waxy and firm texture;
- will stay firm and retain their shape throughout the roasting time and
- have a full flavor with a hint of sweetness.
Nutrition
Jean
My mother used to make this with pork chops and it was delicious, I knew when I saw your website I would find recipes my mom and noni made growing up !! Thank you
Maria
My pleasure Jean! Thanks so much for stopping by!
Karen Corsano
hI Maria,
These recipes for la vigilia look terrific. When you say “paprika” in your recipes what kid do you mean? Is there a particular type you recommend? THANKS,
Maria
Thank you so much Karen. I prefer to use mild Hungarian-style paprika as to not overpower the dish. It really only a question of preference. Enjoy!
Marni
Loved this recipe. It turned out beautiful ly. I had some market fresh Swiss chard l needed to use up and added it to this dish. The family thoroughly enjoyed it.
Maria
How wonderful Marni! Thanks so much for sharing!
Mel
So simple but so amazing! I roughly halved it as there’s only two of us and there is still plenty of leftovers and I added bacon because, well bacon 🙂
Maria
Thanks so much Mel! Great variation! Thanks so much for sharing.
Giuditta
For years, I have talked about these potatoes my nonna made — and no one else in the family remembers them. Thank you for validating me! I’ve made them, and everyone has loved them, but next time, I’ll add the paprika in your recipe. Grazie.
Maria
My pleasure Giuditta! Thanks so much for sharing, I appreciate it!
Naz
Made these tonight and they were absolutely delicious. I halved it as it’s just the two of us. We have enough for dinner tomorrow too!
A keeper!
Maria
Fantastic Naz! Thanks for sharing!
Justin
Hi Maria, from Oxford, England.
I made this dish for Sunday lunch today, using par-boiled white second early potatoes (Charlottes), several varieties of red and yellow tomatoes, (blanched to remove skins) and slices of our lovely crisp eating apple (variety Paul Grieve) – all from our garden – with fresh French parsley, blackcurrant sage, thinly sliced celery, a little garlic, and an eschallion shallot, drizzled with Catalan olive oil and Sicilian lemon juice. After 30 minutes baking under foil I thinly spread a mix of medium fat cheese (UK Double Gloucester) with Gran Padano hard cheese and open baked for another 15 minutes.
My wife Philippa and I really enjoyed it and plan to make up several lots from our harvest this summer to freeze for the cold days of winter. A very good, substantial vegetarian meal but would also be great with ham, pork or an oily fish such as salmon or mackerel, and a glass of Barolo or Pinot Grigio.
Thank you (and your mother) for a wonderful fresh taste of the Mediterranean.
For lunch tomorrow I am using some of the smaller Charlottes with our Sungold and black cherry tomatoes with the last of our fine French beans and the remaining olive oil and lemon juice for your mayo-free recipe.
Regards
Justin
Maria
Thanks so much for taking the time to share Justin! Sounds absolutely fantastic… and with fresh produce… the taste must have been just heavenly!
Lucy
Hi Maria,
I made these today. They were so yummy! I’m sure to make these again very soon. Thanks!
Maria
Thrilled to read this! Thanks Lucy!
Donald Brown
Wow! Followed the recipe to the letter, These are unreal ❤️. Thank you!
Maria
My pleasure Donald! Thanks so much for sharing!
Val
I love these potatoes with tomato sauce, they are really such a great side! Thanks so much for sharing.
Maria
Fantastic Val! Thanks so much for taking the time to comment, appreciate it!