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Orecchiette with Sardines and Cherry Tomatoes

17/11/2023

I present to you a delicious variant that blends the flavors of Pugliese cuisine with those of Sicilian, combining orecchiette, typical of Puglia, with sardines and cherry tomatoes, ingredients often used in Sicilian cooking.

Ingredients

  • 400g of orecchiette
  • 300g of fresh sardines (cleaned and headless)
  • 250g of cherry tomatoes
  • 2 cloves of garlic
  • 1 bunch of fresh parsley
  • 4 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
  • Salt to taste
  • Red chili pepper (optional)
  • Toasted breadcrumbs (optional for garnish)

Preparation

  1. Start by cleaning the sardines well, removing the head and innards, then open them like a book removing the central bone. Wash and cut the cherry tomatoes into halves or quarters.
  2. Boil a pot of salted water to cook the orecchiette.
  3. In the meantime, in a large frying pan, heat the extra virgin olive oil with the whole cloves of garlic and, if you like, a bit of red chili pepper.
  4. Once the garlic is golden, add the sardines and cook over medium heat for a few minutes, until they start to flake apart.
  5. Add the cut cherry tomatoes and cook for another 5-10 minutes, until a slightly reduced sauce is formed. Adjust the salt and remove the garlic cloves.
  6. Cook the orecchiette according to the package instructions, keeping them al dente. Drain the orecchiette while preserving some of the cooking water.
  7. Transfer the orecchiette to the pan with the sardine and cherry tomato sauce, add a bit of the cooking water if necessary to make the sauce creamier and toss them together for a couple of minutes.
  8. Plate the orecchiette, sprinkle with freshly chopped parsley, and if desired, add a bit of toasted breadcrumbs for crunch.

Curiosity

Orecchiette with sardines and cherry tomatoes are a fusion of flavors and traditions. In Sicily, for example, there is a famous dish called “pasta con le sarde” which involves the use of sardines, wild fennel, and raisins, while in Puglia orecchiette is by far the most representative pasta. By combining these two elements you will get a dish rich in history and taste.

Orecchiette with sardines and cherry tomatoes