Spaghetti with sardines

Name: Spaghetti with sardines
Yield: Serves 4
Cuisine: Italian recipes

Raisins add a taste of Sicily to this easy sardine pasta recipe.

Ingredients

35g pine nuts
2 tbsp olive oil
500-600g fresh sardines, filleted (see tip)
2 shallots
45g raisins
100ml white balsamic vinegar (Belazu, from large supermarkets), plus extra 100ml white wine
20g sugar
400g spaghetti
Handful fresh parsley

35g pine nuts
2 tbsp olive oil
500-600g fresh sardines, filleted (see tip)
2 shallots
45g raisins
100ml white balsamic vinegar (Belazu, from large supermarkets), plus extra 100ml white wine
20g sugar
400g spaghetti
Handful fresh parsley

In a dry frying pan, toast the pine nuts over a medium heat until golden, then set aside. Wipe the pan clean and heat 1 tbsp of the olive oil. Add the sardine fillets, season with salt and pepper and fry for 1-2 minutes on each side, then remove to a large bowl.
In a clean pan, heat the rest of the oil. Finely slice the shallots, then fry gently for 8-10 minutes until soft. Add the raisins, cook for 2 minutes, then add the pine nuts, vinegar, white wine and sugar. Boil for 15 minutes or until reduced and syrupy. Taste and season, then pour over the sardines.
Meanwhile, cook the pasta according to pack instructions, reserving some pasta water.
Drain and toss the pasta through the sardines, mix well and add a splash of pasta water to loosen – but don’t make it too wet. Taste and season with salt, pepper and more vinegar if necessary. To serve, stir through chopped fresh parsley.

In a dry frying pan, toast the pine nuts over a medium heat until golden, then set aside. Wipe the pan clean and heat 1 tbsp of the olive oil. Add the sardine fillets, season with salt and pepper and fry for 1-2 minutes on each side, then remove to a large bowl.
In a clean pan, heat the rest of the oil. Finely slice the shallots, then fry gently for 8-10 minutes until soft. Add the raisins, cook for 2 minutes, then add the pine nuts, vinegar, white wine and sugar. Boil for 15 minutes or until reduced and syrupy. Taste and season, then pour over the sardines.
Meanwhile, cook the pasta according to pack instructions, reserving some pasta water.
Drain and toss the pasta through the sardines, mix well and add a splash of pasta water to loosen – but don’t make it too wet. Taste and season with salt, pepper and more vinegar if necessary. To serve, stir through chopped fresh parsley.