Chef John's Pasta con le Sarde

Chef John's Pasta con le Sarde
  • 3/4 cup dry bread crumbs
  • 6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
  • 1 pinch saffron
  • 1/4 cup white wine
  • 1/2 pound bucatini pasta
  • 1 cup diced yellow onion
  • 1 cup diced fennel bulb
  • salt to taste
  • 1/4 cup golden raisins
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 anchovy fillet
  • 2 (4 ounce) cans sardines packed in oil, drained and crumbled
  • 1/4 cup toasted pine nuts
  • 1 pinch red pepper flakes
  • 3 tablespoons chopped fennel fronds, or more to taste


  1. Cook and stir bread crumbs with 2 tablespoons olive oil in a skillet over medium heat until bread crumbs are crispy and toasted, 2 to 5 minutes. Transfer breadcrumbs to a bowl to cool.
  2. Grind saffron threads with a mortar and pestle; pour white wine into mortar and stir to combine.
  3. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook bucatini in boiling water, stirring occasionally until almost cooked through but firm to the bite, 10 to 11 minutes. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup of the pasta water.
  4. Heat remaining olive oil in large skillet over medium heat. Cook and stir onion and fennel with a pinch of salt in hot oil until onion is soft, about 10 minutes.
  5. Stir raisins, garlic, and anchovy fillet into onion mixture; cook and stir until heated through, about 1 minute.
  6. Pour saffron-wine into skillet; cook until wine is almost evaporated, about 2 minutes. Pour 1 ladleful reserved pasta water into skillet and bring to a simmer. Stir pine nuts and red pepper flakes into sauce; simmer until flavors combine and sauce is reduced, about 5 minutes.
  7. Stir bucatini and sardines into wine mixture; increase heat to high, and cook, stirring frequently and adding more reserved pasta water as necessary, until sauce and pasta are heated through, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat. Ladle into bowls and top with fennel fronds and toasted bread crumbs.

04/30/2018
Chef John's Pasta con le Sarde, recipe PT15M PT1H 5 455 calories

Comment on this content
rosemary and goat cheese crostini with walnuts and honey
rosemary and goat cheese crostini with walnuts and honey
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).Place baguette..
4.1
7218
ginger beer
ginger beer
Finely shred ginger into a bowl. Zest lemons and add zest to..
3.9
5571
black bean avocado hazelnut mocha cake
black bean avocado hazelnut mocha cake
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease an 8-i..
4.4
4356
asparagus summer soup
asparagus summer soup
Cut asparagus stalks into 1-inch pieces; reserve tips in a b..
3.4
4173
caribbean sangria
caribbean sangria
Place orange slices, peach slices, lemon slices, and lime sl..
4.2
4280
smoked paprika chicken, kale, and bean stew
smoked paprika chicken, kale, and bean stew
Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add chicken ..
3.7
4324
japanese-mexican fusion quesadillas
japanese-mexican fusion quesadillas
Combine soy sauce, sugar, ginger, and garlic in a large bowl..
2.9
5289
vegan oven-fried zucchini sticks
vegan oven-fried zucchini sticks
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spread olive ..
2.1
4816
flourless triple chocolate cookies
flourless triple chocolate cookies
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Spray 2 bakin..
3.4
4623
ana's pasta con le sarde
ana's pasta con le sarde
Heat olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add fennel bu..
574
Chef John's BLT Pasta
Chef John's BLT Pasta
Pour olive oil into a heavy skillet over medium heat, add ba..
1710
Chef John's Pasta Primavera
Chef John's Pasta Primavera
Fill a large pot with lightly salted water and bring to a ro..
776
Chef John's Creamy Mushroom Pasta
Chef John's Creamy Mushroom Pasta
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook and..
1950
Chef John's Sunday Pasta Sauce
Chef John's Sunday Pasta Sauce
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).Drizzle 1 tabl..
944
Pasta Con Sarde (Pasta with Sardines)
Pasta Con Sarde (Pasta with Sardines)
Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add the..
987
Chef John's Coq Au Vin
Chef John's Coq Au Vin
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).Season chicken..
1813