Stuffed Sardines

Stuffed sardines are a typical dish of Italian cuisine, particularly from Liguria and Sicily, where sardines are abundant and very fresh. Here’s how to make this delicious dish.

Ingredients

• 500 g of fresh sardines
• Breadcrumbs
• 2 cloves of garlic
• Chopped fresh parsley
• 50 g of pine nuts
• 50 g of raisins
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Salt
• Pepper
• 1 lemon (the juice)
• White wine

Preparation

1. Clean the sardines by removing the head, the guts, and the central bone, obtaining filets that are opened like a book. Rinse the fillets under running water and gently pat them dry.
2. In a bowl, mix breadcrumbs with finely chopped garlic and parsley, pine nuts, raisins (previously soaked in warm water and squeezed), salt, and pepper to taste. If necessary, add a drizzle of oil to make the mixture more homogeneous.
3. Distribute a teaspoon of the stuffing on each sardine fillet, then gently roll them up starting from the head towards the tail.
4. Place the stuffed sardines in an oiled baking dish, alternating with slices of lemon if possible.
5. Spritz the sardines with white wine and a bit of lemon juice, then drizzle with more olive oil.
6. Bake in a preheated oven at 180 °C for about 15-20 minutes, until they are nicely golden.
7. Serve hot or at room temperature, accompanied by slices of lemon.

Curiosity

Every family in Liguria and Sicily has their own version of this recipe, often handed down from generation to generation. Some variations include adding capers or olives to the stuffing, or a touch of chili pepper for a spicier variant.

This is a very versatile recipe: you can play with the ingredients and proportions of the stuffing according to your personal tastes.