Spaghetti Con Le Sarde

Name: Spaghetti Con Le Sarde
Ingredients: 1 pound whole wheat or spelt spaghetti (1 package); 1 large onion, diced; 1 fennel bulb, diced; 3 garlic cloves, minced; 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano; 1 tablespoon tomato paste; 1 tablespoon sugar; 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil; 1 can San Marzano tomatoes, whole and crushed by hand is my preferred; 1 pound fresh sardines, filleted and roughly chopped (you could substitute fresh anchovies or another small fish); 4 anchovies (packed in oil or salt is fine); 2 tablespoons flour; 1 cup golden raisins (I like to soak them in some marsala, but that's optional); 1/3 cup pine nuts, toasted; 1/2 teaspoon saffron threads, steeped in 1 tablespoon hot water; 1 tablespoon parsley, minced to garnish; optional- toasted homemade breadcrumbs (make using a food processor and toast in a dry pan with a drizzle of olive oil until golden)

17 ingredients

5 steps

Ingredients

1 pound whole wheat or spelt spaghetti (1 package)
1 large onion, diced
1 fennel bulb, diced
3 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 tablespoon sugar
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 can San Marzano tomatoes, whole and crushed by hand is my preferred
1 pound fresh sardines, filleted and roughly chopped (you could substitute fresh anchovies or another small fish)
4 anchovies (packed in oil or salt is fine)
2 tablespoons flour
1 cup golden raisins (I like to soak them in some marsala, but that's optional)
1/3 cup pine nuts, toasted
1/2 teaspoon saffron threads, steeped in 1 tablespoon hot water
1 tablespoon parsley, minced to garnish
optional- toasted homemade breadcrumbs (make using a food processor and toast in a dry pan with a drizzle of olive oil until golden)

Directions

1

To make the tomato sauce, heat a tablespoon of the olive oil and saute half the onions and garlic for a minute until translucent. Add the tomato paste and the oregano and allow the paste to rust for a couple minutes. Add the can of tomatoes and the sugar, and stir through. Allow to simmer for 15-20 minutes, until it starts to reduce. This can be done ahead of time, and you can store any extra for other uses.
2

Bring heavily salted pasta water to boil. Cook the fennel for 5 minutes in the boiling water and then remove with a slotted spoon. Cook the pasta in the fennel water for a minute short of the package instructions, and reserve some pasta water when it's done.
3

Meanwhile, simmer the remaining onion and garlic in a tablespoon of the olive oil until softened. Add the fennel and allow to cook together for a few minutes, until any moisture in the pan has evaporated. Remove to a bowl.
4

Coat the sardine pieces in the flour by tossing together. You don't have to be too careful with this, you're not breading each piece. Pour half the remaining olive oil into the pan and saute the sardines in the oil until they start to brown. Add the anchovies and the cooked vegetables. and toss together. Allow to cook together for 5-6 minutes until everything starts to come together.
5

Add half the tomato sauce, reserving some in case you don't need all of it. Add the raisins, pine nuts, and saffron water and stir to combine. Toss in the spaghetti along with a 1/2 cup pasta cooking water. Allow to cook together for 3-4 minutes, adding more sauce or water depending on if it's too dry or too thick. Off the heat, drizzle the remaining olive oil and the parsley. Optional to also add some toasted homemade breadcrumbs ( I wouldn't use the pre-made variety unless they are panko breadcrumbs).