Iana's Pasta con le Sarde

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A traditional Sicilian pasta recipe with a tomato-based sauce, sardines, and fennel. Credit goes to Iana, a special lady who lived near Castello a Mare.

Submitted by FredWilliams
Published on January 12, 2019
Prep Time:
15 mins
Cook Time:
30 mins
Total Time:
45 mins
Servings:
8
Yield:
8 servings
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Ingredients

Sauce:

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

  • 1 bulb fennel - thinly sliced, fronds lightly chopped, stems discarded

  • 1 onion, diced

  • 4 cloves garlic, minced

  • 2 (4.5 ounce) cans sardines packed in oil

  • ⅓ cup raisins

  • ¼ cup pine nuts

  • 1 teaspoon chopped fresh basil

  • 1 teaspoon fennel seeds

  • salt and ground black pepper to taste

  • 1 pinch red pepper flakes, or to taste

  • 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes

  • 1 (16 ounce) package spaghetti

Mudica (Seasoned Bread Crumbs):

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil

  • 2 cloves garlic, or more to taste, minced

  • 1 cup bread crumbs

  • ½ teaspoon chopped fresh basil

  • 1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese, or to taste

Directions

  1. Heat olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add fennel bulb, fronds, and onion. Cook until tender, about 5 minutes. Add garlic; cook for 1 minute. Add sardines with oil; stir until crumbled. Stir in raisins, pine nuts, basil, fennel seeds, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes; cook until toasted. Pour in tomatoes. Let sauce simmer.

  2. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook spaghetti in the boiling water, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 12 minutes.

  3. Meanwhile, heat oil in another pan over medium heat. Add garlic and saute until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add bread crumbs and basil. Cook, stirring occasionally, until browned, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat.

  4. Drain pasta; serve topped with the sauce, seasoned bread crumbs, and Parmesan cheese.

Cook's Notes:

Use your favorite pasta.

Feel free to use Italian seasoning instead of basil in the mudica, plus any desired seasonings.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

468 Calories
13g Fat
69g Carbs
21g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 8
Calories 468
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 13g 17%
Saturated Fat 2g 10%
Cholesterol 46mg 15%
Sodium 439mg 19%
Total Carbohydrate 69g 25%
Dietary Fiber 6g 21%
Total Sugars 7g
Protein 21g 41%
Vitamin C 15mg 16%
Calcium 228mg 18%
Iron 6mg 31%
Potassium 794mg 17%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.