Pasta con le Sarde

Name: Pasta con le Sarde
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 1 lb Malloreddus pasta (or short pasta); 8 oz can canned sardines in oil; 1/2 cup fresh fennel (or fresh dill), chopped; 2 cloves garlic, minced; 1/8 tsp saffron threads; 6 tbsp olive oil; 1/2 cup grated Pecorino Romano cheese; 1 tsp salt; 1/4 tsp black pepper; 1/4 cup warm water

Sardinian pasta with tender sardines, wild fennel, garlic, and saffron, finished with Pecorino Romano for a bold, briny dish.

35 minMediumServes 4480 cal/serving

ItalianDinnerStovetopStandard

Ingredients

1 lb Malloreddus pasta (or short pasta)
8 oz can canned sardines in oil
1/2 cup fresh fennel (or fresh dill), chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/8 tsp saffron threads
6 tbsp olive oil
1/2 cup grated Pecorino Romano cheese
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/4 cup warm water

Instructions

1

Dissolve 1/8 tsp saffron threads in 1/4 cup warm water and let steep for 5 minutes.
2

Bring a large pot of salted water to boil and cook 1 lb Malloreddus pasta (or short pasta) according to package directions until al dente.
3

Heat 6 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 2 cloves minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
4

Add 8 oz can canned sardines in oil with their oil and gently break apart with a fork. Cook for 2 minutes.
5

Add 1/2 cup chopped fresh fennel (or fresh dill) and the saffron-infused warm water. Simmer for 3 minutes.
6

Drain Malloreddus pasta (or short pasta) and add to the skillet. Toss gently to combine, coating the pasta in the sauce.
7

Season with 1 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp black pepper. Toss again.
8

Divide into serving bowls and top with 1/2 cup grated Pecorino Romano cheese. Serve immediately.

Questions

Can I make Pasta con le Sarde dairy-free?

Yes. The dairy in this entry is 1/2 cup grated Pecorino Romano cheese. Swap the cheese for a plant-based melting cheese (expect a milder flavor). The richness shifts slightly, but the method does not change.

Can I make Pasta con le Sarde gluten-free?

Yes. The gluten in this entry is 1 lb Malloreddus pasta (or short pasta). Swap the pasta for a gluten-free one, cooked a minute short of its package time. Everything else proceeds as written.

How long does Pasta con le Sarde keep?

Refrigerate leftovers within two hours and eat them within two days (seafood turns fast). Reheat gently on the stovetop.

Can I halve or double Pasta con le Sarde?

Yes. As written it serves 4. Every ingredient in this entry carries precomputed half and double quantities, and the app's batch dial rewrites them inside each step. When doubling on the stovetop, use your widest pan or work in two batches so the food sears instead of steaming.

Serve it with

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