mattthebutcher Weblog

                                                                  PASTA CON SARDE

OK….I was browsing one of my favorite food sites the other day,and I noticed a post called “pasta and sardines”. At first I thought “yuck”. Don’t get me wrong,I love pasta,and I love sardines,not just together. The poster said they wanted to eat more healthy fish,ones that weren’t being over fished,and ones with high levels of Omega-3.Well,needless to say I HAD to try this dish.I thought it would either be very good,or it would hit the trash…lol….Much to my suprise,this dish was absolutely delicious! One that will probably be a weekly or bi-weekly dinner.It’s not overly fishy at all.I think that anyone that eats any kind of fish will love this,even tho it has sardines and anchovies in it. Trust me here,even tho many of you don’t know me…lol…..trust me.After all,if you can’t trust your butcher,who can you trust?….lol…..here’s the recipe……feel free to add or subtract anything you want,but it’s not overly fishy,not overly salty,in fact I added salt when i was eating.The raisins add a sweetness that shouldn’t be missing from this dish.Try it an be sure to let me know how you like it !!!

        1/2 c olive oil separated

        1 large onion diced                                                                                                  

        4 garlic cloves diced ( I used the whole bulb !)

         2 oz. pine nuts toasted

          1 bulb fennel blanched for 6 minutes, then coarsley chopped

           2 tins sardines (I used the ones packed in olive oil)

           4 anchovie fillets

            1/2 c raisins

            1 16 oz. can of crushed tomato’s

             1 tsp. black pepper

              1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes (or to taste)

Using half the olive oil,saute the onions,garlic and fennel in a good sized frying pan until the onions are opaque.In another small frying pan heat the other half of olive oil and mash in the anchovies and sardines to a paste.Mix the sardine paste into the onion mixture,add the raisins,tomato’s and pine nuts.Add the spices and gently simmer.At the same time,prepare whatever pasta you like,saving some of the pasta water to add to the sardine mixture if it’s too thick.You don’t want the mixture too thick,but also not watery.Kind of like a thick spagetti sauce. Combine tha sardine sauce and the pasta and serve with some good crusty bread.Again,please get back to me and let me know if you liked this recipe.thanks,and good eating !!!!