Pasta with Sardines and Broccoli

Pasta 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

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. Add the previously cooked broccoli to the pan with the sardines and mix gently.

  6. Cook the pasta in plenty of salted water following the cooking time instructions on the package to achieve al dente texture.

  7. 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.

  8. Drain the pasta and transfer it to the pan with the sauce. Stir well to blend the ingredients.

  9. 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.

Pasta with sardines and broccoli