Pasta with Sardines and Broccoli
17/11/2023Pasta with sardines and broccoli is a dish that blends land and sea, very much appreciated in Mediterranean cuisine. I propose a version inspired by Italian cooking. Here’s how to prepare it:
Ingredients
- 320g of pasta, such as bucatini or linguine
- 200g of broccoli
- 200g of fresh or preserved sardine fillets
- 2 cloves of garlic
- 50g of raisins
- 50g of pine nuts
- 1 sachet of saffron (optional)
- 1 bunch of wild fennel or fennel
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Toasted breadcrumbs (optional)
Preparation
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Clean and cut the broccoli into small florets. Cook them in boiling salted water for about 5 minutes or until al dente. Drain and set aside.
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If using fresh sardines, clean them by removing the bones and the head, then cut them into pieces. If using preserved sardines, drain them from the oil.
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In a large pan, sauté the crushed garlic cloves in plenty of extra virgin olive oil. Remove the garlic as soon as it has browned and add the sardine fillets.
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Cook the sardines for a few minutes, then add raisins, pine nuts, and if you want, the sachet of saffron dissolved in a little hot water. Let it flavor for a couple of minutes.
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Add the previously cooked broccoli to the pan with the sardines and mix gently.
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Cook the pasta in plenty of salted water following the cooking time instructions on the package to achieve al dente texture.
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While the pasta cooks, chop the wild fennel or fennel and add it to the pan with the sauce, letting everything flavor for a few minutes.
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Drain the pasta and transfer it to the pan with the sauce. Stir well to blend the ingredients.
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Serve the pasta hot and, if desired, sprinkle with toasted breadcrumbs to add crunchiness.
Curiosity
In Sicily, the dish “pasta con le sarde” is very well-known, which includes the use of wild fennel and anchovies, in addition to the typical pasta called “bucatini”. The addition of broccoli is a personal touch that enriches the dish with the nutritional properties and delicate taste of this vegetable.