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5.0 from 21 votes

Bucatini Recipe with Sardines and Wild Fennel

I was recently reminded of a traditional Sicilian recipe called “pasta con le sarde,” which means pasta with sardines. The combination of the fragrant wild fennel, the creaminess of the toasted pine nuts, and the saltiness of the sardines creates flavor that will take you to the Mediterranean Sea. Go to your local Italian specialty store and look for the perfect wine pairing of Corvo Bianco--you’ll be glad you did.

Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
45 mins
Servings: 5
Calories: 624 kcal
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian

Ingredients

  • 1 handful fresh wild fennel roughly chopped
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp black pepper freshly ground
  • 1/4 /4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 red onion finely chopped
  • 5 anchovy fillets in oil
  • 1 lb fresh sardines scaled, cleaned and filleted
  • 2 tbsp pine nuts toasted
  • 1 tsp saffron threads
  • 1 lb bucatini pasta

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil, add the chopped fennel and boil for 20 minutes.
  2. Remove the fennel and reserve the cooking water.
  3. Chop the fennel into 1-inch pieces and set aside.
  4. Pour the olive oil into a large sauté pan over a medium heat. Add the onions and sauté for 5 minutes or until translucent. Stir in the anchovy fillets and let them dissolve for about 1 minute.
  5. Add the sardines and 2 ladles of the reserved fennel water. Stir for a few minutes, then add the toasted pine nuts, saffron, salt, and pepper. Cook gently for 5 minutes.
  6. Add the fennel to the sardine mixture and 2 more ladles of fennel water to form a medium-thick sauce.
  7. Bring the reserved fennel water back to a boil. Add plenty of salt and more water if necessary, then add the bucatini and cook until al dente, about 8 to 9 minutes.
  8. Drain the bucatini and mix with the sardine sauce. Let it rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

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Nutrition Information

Calories 624kcal (31%) Carbohydrates 70g (23%) Protein 29g (58%) Fat 24g (37%) Saturated Fat 2g (10%) Cholesterol 37mg (12%) Sodium 618mg (26%) Potassium 488mg (14%) Fiber 3g (12%) Sugar 3g (6%) Vitamin A 135IU (3%) Vitamin C 1.7mg (2%) Calcium 290mg (29%) Iron 2.4mg (13%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 5Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 624

% Daily Value*

Calories 624kcal 31%
Carbohydrates 70g 23%
Protein 29g 58%
Fat 24g 37%
Saturated Fat 2g 10%
Cholesterol 37mg 12%
Sodium 618mg 26%
Potassium 488mg 10%
Fiber 3g 12%
Sugar 3g 6%
Vitamin A 135IU 3%
Vitamin C 1.7mg 2%
Calcium 290mg 29%
Iron 2.4mg 13%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.