Imagine a dish that captures the essence of Sicilian cuisine in every single bite - a magical combination of fresh sardines, sweet raisins, and crunchy pine nuts that dances on your palate. Pasta con le Sarde is not just a recipe; it's a culinary journey that brings the vibrant coastal traditions of Sicily directly to your dining table. This extraordinary pasta dish transforms simple ingredients into a symphony of flavors that will make your taste buds sing and transport you to the sun-drenched shores of Southern Italy.
Prep Time: 15 mins
Cook Time: 30 mins
Total Time: 45 mins
Cuisine: Sicilian
Serves: 4 servings
Ingredients
- 400g spaghetti
- 200g sardines, cleaned and filleted
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 cup raisins
- 1/2 cup pine nuts
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Begin by preparing all your ingredients. Finely chop the onion, clean and fillet the sardines if not already done, and chop the fresh parsley. Measure out the raisins, pine nuts, and olive oil.
- In a large pot, bring salted water to a boil. Once boiling, add the spaghetti and cook according to package instructions until al dente, usually about 8-10 minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
- While the pasta is cooking, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and sauté for about 5 minutes, or until the onion becomes translucent and soft.
- Add the sardines to the skillet with the onions. Cook gently for about 3-4 minutes, breaking the sardines into smaller pieces with a spatula as they cook. Be careful not to overcook them.
- Next, add the raisins and pine nuts to the skillet. Stir well to combine all the ingredients and allow them to cook together for another 2-3 minutes. The heat will help the raisins plump up and the pine nuts to toast slightly.
- Once the spaghetti is cooked, reserve about 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta. Add the drained spaghetti to the skillet with the sardine mixture.
- Gently toss the spaghetti with the sardine mixture, adding a little reserved pasta water if needed to help combine everything and create a light sauce.
- Season the pasta with salt and pepper to taste. Stir in the chopped fresh parsley just before serving to add freshness and color.
- Serve the Sicilian Pasta with Sardines hot, garnished with additional parsley if desired. Enjoy your meal!
Tips
- Use fresh sardines whenever possible for the most authentic flavor. If fresh aren't available, high-quality canned sardines work well too.
- Toast your pine nuts lightly before adding them to enhance their nutty flavor and add extra depth to the dish.
- Don't overcook the sardines - they should be gently heated and just starting to break apart.
- Reserve some pasta water before draining. The starchy water helps create a silky sauce and helps ingredients cling to the pasta.
- For an extra traditional touch, some Sicilian cooks add a sprinkle of toasted breadcrumbs on top for additional texture.
- Serve immediately after cooking to enjoy the optimal blend of flavors and textures.
Nutrition Facts
Calories: 711kcal
Carbohydrates: 94g
Protein: 25g
Fat: 24g
Saturated Fat: 4g
Cholesterol: 25mg
