Mattia and Laura say that this salad is a staple in all Roman homes. It was clearly part of their everyday repertoire as they sliced, chopped, fried, and seasoned with a handful of this and a sprinkle of that. Mattia says that the fresh herbs and white vinegar are the key to this sensational salad, while Laura supplies us with its history.

Concia, a dish unique to the Roman Jewish Ghetto, was likely brought there by Jews fleeing the Inquisition at the end of the 15th century. Many Spanish Jews fled to Italy and brought with them an interesting array of dishes previously unknown to Italian palates.

This salad gets better as it sits in the dressing. It’s a traditional Shabbos dish because it’s prepared ahead of time.