A tip! I have recently learned from an Italian Chef to add a splash of cold water before the oil heats up too much, and it stops the onion, garlic etc from over cooking and browning too much. I have tried it and it works. Love the recipe and your videos btw.
Dear crazy people, this is a sardine sauce, which you can't make without sardines. If you don't like sardines, then you can't make the recipe. Does that all make sense?
I am half sicilianna chef and this is a great version of this particular dish. Quick fact that you probably already know... The fried breadcrumbs were used in many southern Italian pasta dishes to substitute parmiggiano or pecorino that most families could not afford. TFS :)
ichigeri that is an argument by region....North Vs the south....one uses it one doesnt but its really a matter of taste and if it compliments the fish....
cool. I love how passionate Italians are about their pasta :) Whenever I see a non-Italian post a pasta dish, I get out the popcorn and look for the damning comments hehe, funtimes.
ichigeri LOL yeah people are very protective of their national cuisine but everyone needs to remain open minded and enjoy all the possibilities...this one is great!
Chef John, I can’t begin to tell you how many times I have made this recipe. So close to my Sicilian grandmother’s recipe, passed down to me. Don’t tell grandma but I prefer your version! Thank you for posting! Love your channel!!
So I just finished making and eating the Pasta con Le Sarde. Not knowing exactly what to expect and hoping it wasn't going to be fishy tasting, I decided to try it. I have to say, this dish was a complete surprise! It was delicious! Not fishy tasting at all! All of the ingredients worked together beautifully & harmoniously and the Bucatini was the absolute perfect choice for the pasta. The only thing I changed was to saute fresh garlic when making the bread crumbs and I left out the red pepper bc I don't like hot, spicy food. I urge anyone thinking about trying this recipe to absolutely go for it, you won't be disappointed.
As someone who grew up eating this and makes it often, this is a great version. One thing I do differently is toss the whole can of sardines in the pan and squash them up with a fork to a fine mashed consistency. Mix with the onion and fennel and everything else and it becomes a consolidated sauce that coats the pasta better. You won’t have the chunks, which I think makes it harder to coat the pasta and distribute the sardines, but if chunks are your thing do it his way. It’ll be awesome either way.
This is my favorite video that you’ve made, primarily because the recipe blows my mind, and partly because of your sense of humor. I’m sorry that your top 3 family culinary inspirations have now passed beyond the veil between the worlds. Blessings to you in this time of grief.
Oh wow, I wouldn’t expect to see you here!! Hi, I recently started watching your channel. Then again, this was 5 years ago and I’m not sure how many subscribers you had back then.
I ❤ them too. My dad used to say the breadcrumbs where called ‘poor man’s Parmesan cheese’ because many poor Sicilians couldn’t afford Parmesan cheese.
This was a so special and revered dish in my Sicilian household. We toasted the breadcrumbs and added some sugar to them. We used currents instead of raisins and I know this is not your version, but besides all those wonderful ingredients, Mom through in a little tomato purée. Oh my goodness, it was so delicious!
Thanks John, husband is a souchef and he had seconds! Did have to kick him out of the work space twice but all in all he didn't tell me a single thing I could have done better (as a total newb I can ask for nothing else) I'll be on the look out for fish and vegetarian dishes from you from now on😀
Made this tonite and another home run courtesy of Chef John! I used canned sardines with harissa from TJ's and it worked beautifully. Thanks again, Chef John!
@@patrickcannady2066 I once tried to sneak a can of tuna past my (late) cat Alex. He was asleep in the living room and I very quietly opened the tuna. It took but a few seconds for him to be at my side.
Half way through, I realised I hate sardines AND fennel. Then realised I've watched every single foodwishes video. It's an automatic click. Regardless of whether or not I think I'm going to try the recipe. I just like hearing you narrate! You should narrate everything
Thank you; I did the same recipe minus the wine, saffron, breadcrumbs and pasta, used it as a topper on jasmin rice and it tasted absolutely incredible!
Made this tonight minus the saffron (I'm a college student). So friggin good. 10/10 would recommend. I also use spanish smoked paprika as my spice. Was nice :)
I would suggest using currants instead of golden raisins recommended here which make this sauce far sweeter than I've experienced it with other variations on this recipe. Or cut the raisin amount in half.
Greetings from Peru! I love your videos, the editing and commentary make it very enjoyable. Please never stop, and thank you for this high quality channel! p.s: make greek yogurt!
Prepared this today. This was the first time I cooked something out of fennel. And it tasted delicious. I used fusilloni (which are spirals like fusilli, but larger) instead of spaghetti - I don't like spaghetti, because they don't hold any sauce well - and it worked perfectly. I think pine nuts may be omitted. Saffron and wine are essential.
Who's here during Covid-19? Cooking with sardines is new to me already, and then the raisins! Had to see another video and then this one with raisins to be convinced. Will be trying to make something close tomorrow. Looking forward to it.
Spent some time in Sicily when I was in the Navy YEARS ago. Some of the best food I've ever had in my life was on that island. My first real Calzone was so amazing, I bought another one, but I was 20 and had an endless appetite and metabolism. Good times. Going to try this recipe because I love Sardines.
i saw this recipe on the channel some years ago, but always postponed trying it out. Today was the first time and though we skipped saffron infused wine and pine nuts, this was most certainly one of the best pastas i have eaten ever and we have traveled Italy a few times. Many many thanks for inspiration!!!
I'm going to have to try this. I had this meal when I spent a few days in Palermo (then went to Catania, Siracusa and Cefalù). I tell you it was so goood! Seafood in Sicily is fresh and the markets are to die for! This brings me back to my favorite part of Italy (after Napoli!). Thank God I also like raisins, :-)
The more authentic Italian food is, the less I like it. I tried to get a tuna hoagie from an Italian deli, but he refuses to use "American" mayonnaise, which means the tuna is all dry and crumbly and falls out as you eat it.
What an exquisite dish, with so much character. I haven't tried it but it is indeed a thing of beauty! If it tastes as good as it looks it should be given some degree of iconic status.
Absolutely tip-top, no hard cooking, all stay fresh. Sardines and noodles for me tonight as I am all prepped, but next time it will be this way... thank you, Chef.
I have found my new youtube addiction! This chef is amazing, and so funny. What a charming guy. Very informative like Alton Brown, with a voice like John Tesh. perfection. :)
My mom is Sicilian and used to make a similar dish. She would boil the pasta with cauliflower and/or broccoli and use some of that water for the sauce which contained toasted pine nuts, anchovy, hot pepper and capers. The pasta and cauliflower would finish cooking in the sauce, then she would top with the toasted breadcrumbs and grated parmesan. Brings back great memories. I'm definitely going to try this dish, thank you.
I used this recipe/technique and it is now my favorite pasta. Chef John is a godsend! EDIT: Well I substituted lesser goods for the expensive stuff but still...
I tried this the other day not because I like sardines but because chef John has never steered me wrong. I didn't have the saffron infused wine, the pine nuts or golden raisins and had to substitute and it was still delicious!
I can't wait to try this dish. Two of my favoruite ingredients are fennel and the store had cans of sardines on sale this week! Talk about timing. Pine nuts are really scrummy too.
Absolutely brilliant, as always. Chef John, I have to tell you,that, I used 5 of your side dishes at x-mas. They went lovely with our turducken. Many thank's.
I'm italian but i must say your pasta recipes are always spot on! If i may, i don't think bucatini is quite the best for this sauce, i think they're good only for tomato based sauces, spaghetti in this case maybe would help grab more of that FREAKIG DELICIOUS sauce you got.
MrPoznano Non so che tipo di spaghetti compri tu, ma quelli che ho sempre comprato io (qui al sud) si chiamano così, è un tipo di formato di spaghetti. Poi ci sono altri formati che non mi piacciono (gli spaghettini, per esempio, o i capelli d'angelo...). I bucatini proprio li detesto XD e no, sono proprio italiana.
Dear crazy people, this is a recipe. If you don't like the ingredients in this recipe, please look for a recipe with ingredients you actually DO like. Elsewise, please zip it~ ( which is akin to asking for a miracle, I'm sure! ) LOL!
This is exactly like the pasta con le sarde that I had on Sicily. Great work, Chef John. The people from Sicily only use a fork to eat their pasta, no spoons.
My wife is Chinese. I made her Spaghetti Bolognese and she promptly started eating it with chopsticks. They are way better than a fork for any noodles!
Check out the recipe: www.allrecipes.com/Recipe/241081/Chef-Johns-Pasta-con-le-Sarde/
Be good with fresh makeral.
A tip! I have recently learned from an Italian Chef to add a splash of cold water before the oil heats up too much, and it stops the onion, garlic etc from over cooking and browning too much. I have tried it and it works. Love the recipe and your videos btw.
Dear crazy people, this is a sardine sauce, which you can't make without sardines. If you don't like sardines, then you can't make the recipe. Does that all make sense?
Don't try to reason with crazy people Chef John
Food Wishes Chef John, were you ever an instructor? You have that awesomely lame jokes that's very reminiscent of my highschool teacher XD
Bob Loblaw
It's called "pasta CON LA SARDE" for the love of Jeff!!!!
Please make chedder bay buscuits
who the hell doesn't like sardines fish is delicious some people are just dumb and want some pasta with sauce and no meat smh
I am half sicilianna chef and this is a great version of this particular dish. Quick fact that you probably already know... The fried breadcrumbs were used in many southern Italian pasta dishes to substitute parmiggiano or pecorino that most families could not afford. TFS :)
istn't it also considered incorrect to put cheese with fish in a pasta dish, traditionally?
Ooh! Foody facts. I love it. Thank you for sharing!
ichigeri that is an argument by region....North Vs the south....one uses it one doesnt but its really a matter of taste and if it compliments the fish....
cool. I love how passionate Italians are about their pasta :) Whenever I see a non-Italian post a pasta dish, I get out the popcorn and look for the damning comments hehe, funtimes.
ichigeri LOL yeah people are very protective of their national cuisine but everyone needs to remain open minded and enjoy all the possibilities...this one is great!
Chef John, I can’t begin to tell you how many times I have made this recipe. So close to my Sicilian grandmother’s recipe, passed down to me. Don’t tell grandma but I prefer your version! Thank you for posting! Love your channel!!
So I just finished making and eating the Pasta con Le Sarde.
Not knowing exactly what to expect and hoping it wasn't going to be fishy tasting, I decided to try it.
I have to say, this dish was a complete surprise! It was delicious! Not fishy tasting at all! All of the ingredients worked together beautifully & harmoniously and the Bucatini was the absolute perfect choice for the pasta.
The only thing I changed was to saute fresh garlic when making the bread crumbs and I left out the red pepper bc I don't like hot, spicy food.
I urge anyone thinking about trying this recipe to absolutely go for it, you won't be disappointed.
This tastes even better than it looks. Absolutely incredible. I thank you from the bottom of my stomach!
I’ve made it several times and it never looks good. All grey and gloppy. But oh boy, it does taste better. A lot better.
As someone who grew up eating this and makes it often, this is a great version. One thing I do differently is toss the whole can of sardines in the pan and squash them up with a fork to a fine mashed consistency. Mix with the onion and fennel and everything else and it becomes a consolidated sauce that coats the pasta better. You won’t have the chunks, which I think makes it harder to coat the pasta and distribute the sardines, but if chunks are your thing do it his way. It’ll be awesome either way.
Definitely prefer a mashed sardine.
This is my favorite video that you’ve made, primarily because the recipe blows my mind, and partly because of your sense of humor. I’m sorry that your top 3 family culinary inspirations have now passed beyond the veil between the worlds. Blessings to you in this time of grief.
I always make this! The bread crumbs in there make it so good! :)
Oh wow, I wouldn’t expect to see you here!! Hi, I recently started watching your channel. Then again, this was 5 years ago and I’m not sure how many subscribers you had back then.
Emma 🥰
I ❤ them too. My dad used to say the breadcrumbs where called ‘poor man’s Parmesan cheese’ because many poor Sicilians couldn’t afford Parmesan cheese.
This fellow is talented and well versed in the culinary arts. Thank you very much for posting. Sardines are a super food.
This was a so special and revered dish in my Sicilian household. We toasted the breadcrumbs and added some sugar to them. We used currents instead of raisins and I know this is not your version, but besides all those wonderful ingredients, Mom through in a little tomato purée. Oh my goodness, it was so delicious!
Thanks John, husband is a souchef and he had seconds! Did have to kick him out of the work space twice but all in all he didn't tell me a single thing I could have done better (as a total newb I can ask for nothing else)
I'll be on the look out for fish and vegetarian dishes from you from now on😀
Made this two nights in a row. Love the recipe.
For those who think saffron is really expensive, go to a middle eastern grocery instead of the upscale hipster boutique.
And a little goes a long way
Great tip thanks!
In my humble opinion, the best video Chef John has ever made. The passion for taste and texture was obvious - a delight to consume
thanks John,
you're always there when i need you
I tried this recipe with canned sardines that were lightly smoked. Magnifique!!
I made this tonight and it is one of the greatest pasta dishes I have ever tasted! Thank you chef John! :)
Just cooked this ... Husband had like 3 servings of this!!! Hats off Chef John .. love your recipes
Made this tonite and another home run courtesy of Chef John! I used canned sardines with harissa from TJ's and it worked beautifully. Thanks again, Chef John!
OMG, my Sicilian mother used to make this dish! She has since passed away. Misplaced her recipe! So delicious. Thanks for posting!!!
I always love more authentic Italian recipes over the Americanized ones. This looks great, might have to try it!
It's all good in my book :P
....ok, I am buying sardines tomorrow. Love your recipes! Wonderful.
Awesome video... Thanks a bunch for this. :D
My cats (2) wouldn't let me make this recipe, they ganged up on me as soon as they heard the sardine cans lid pop.
I don't think you can cook anything, those things will devour any and all...... Well everything
especially canned fish. they can hear a tin opening a mile away and smell it within seconds
LOLOL!!!!!
@@patrickcannady2066 I once tried to sneak a can of tuna past my (late) cat Alex. He was asleep in the living room and I very quietly opened the tuna. It took but a few seconds for him to be at my side.
Well as a cat owner you should know that by now by extra cans of sardines for your dish and also for them remember they are family to.
Half way through, I realised I hate sardines AND fennel. Then realised I've watched every single foodwishes video. It's an automatic click. Regardless of whether or not I think I'm going to try the recipe. I just like hearing you narrate! You should narrate everything
I myself didn’t think I’d like it, either….but having tried it, I was pleasantly surprised. It’s great.
Yes! I have this ever Christmas Eve. Your recipe is a little different, but as you would say, you're the Monet of your own pasta con le Sarde!
This is one of the best dishes I had in Rome. I’m definitely going to make it.
Thank you; I did the same recipe minus the wine, saffron, breadcrumbs and pasta, used it as a topper on jasmin rice and it tasted absolutely incredible!
I find it charming that your Sicilian friends are so concerned for our good health. It's nice to have friends like that, isn't it? :)
This couldn't have come at a better time!. I was actually searching for sardines recipes today. I will try this
This is absolutely, definitively, positively, one of the best, most delicious pasta's I have ever eaten! Thanks Chef.
I actually just ate a version of this with cauliflower instead of anchovies yesterday. The pinenuts and raisin combination was amazing.
🤣🤣🤣
Made this tonight minus the saffron (I'm a college student). So friggin good. 10/10 would recommend. I also use spanish smoked paprika as my spice. Was nice :)
Merry Christmas to you and yours! Thank you for all wonderful recipes
10 years later, just cooked for lunch - fantastic chef John recipe as always!
"I don't care if you like raisins or not, you're gonna add 'em." My day is made. xD
StarryByNature *technically; Currants
🤣 I love this quote, a proper way to deal with negativity 😂😂
As a Sicilian-American, I can assure you, the entire authentic recipe for pasta con sarde is "Oh, you hate _____? Throw that right in the pot".
well it makes the dish so not really an option
I would suggest using currants instead of golden raisins recommended here which make this sauce far sweeter than I've experienced it with other variations on this recipe. Or cut the raisin amount in half.
Love this guy. What a great voice over.
Chef John you have everything. Thanks!
and as always, I enjoyed watching this video.
Made this (without saffron) and find it a super dish. It´s quick and delicious and healthy. Thank you for this recepy, will repeat it!
Greetings from Peru! I love your videos, the editing and commentary make it very enjoyable. Please never stop, and thank you for this high quality channel!
p.s: make greek yogurt!
I would like to try this just to see what it tastes like. It looks good. TFS!
This is my first cook from your channel and absolutely awesome! Thank you for taking the time to film this
One of my favorite dishes! 'The Magic of Tinned Fish' version is amazing!
This looks so, so, so amazeballs. I've been in the mood for something different and I think we have a winner.
Looks so, so delicious! Thanks for sharing the video.
Prepared this today. This was the first time I cooked something out of fennel. And it tasted delicious.
I used fusilloni (which are spirals like fusilli, but larger) instead of spaghetti - I don't like spaghetti, because they don't hold any sauce well - and it worked perfectly. I think pine nuts may be omitted. Saffron and wine are essential.
The homemade breadcrumbs make the dish! Thank you for showing us another great meal.
Who's here during Covid-19? Cooking with sardines is new to me already, and then the raisins! Had to see another video and then this one with raisins to be convinced. Will be trying to make something close tomorrow. Looking forward to it.
Made and ate this dish today. DELICIOUS. You did it again.
Ah memories, I remember my Sicilian grandma making this dish on special occasions. Bravo, mangia !
You make everything look so easy and delicious!
Spent some time in Sicily when I was in the Navy YEARS ago. Some of the best food I've ever had in my life was on that island. My first real Calzone was so amazing, I bought another one, but I was 20 and had an endless appetite and metabolism. Good times. Going to try this recipe because I love Sardines.
i saw this recipe on the channel some years ago, but always postponed trying it out. Today was the first time and though we skipped saffron infused wine and pine nuts, this was most certainly one of the best pastas i have eaten ever and we have traveled Italy a few times. Many many thanks for inspiration!!!
This sounds marvelous!!! All the unusual ingredients in it and looks pretty fast and easy.
I’ve got to try this.
My mother made it...my grandmother made it and my great grandmother made this. Now I will make it! Thanks.
I am Sicilian and I love this dish even as a kid
I love this chef and Food Wishes. His voice is amusing. I want to make this but I have always hated raisins in Italian food, especially in meatballs.
I'm going to have to try this. I had this meal when I spent a few days in Palermo (then went to Catania, Siracusa and Cefalù). I tell you it was so goood! Seafood in Sicily is fresh and the markets are to die for! This brings me back to my favorite part of Italy (after Napoli!). Thank God I also like raisins, :-)
damnit I hate raisins...but I trust chef john
kuruptzZz In John we trust.
kuruptzZz i love how you said that.
kuruptzZz try prunes
You sounds like that one guy from The Simpsons that had a stroke and always ends his sentences on an upwind. I love it.
This is a gorgeous dish. Everyone who doesn't like it is a culinary baby
No, a culinary philistine!
You really want to eat cooked whole sardines? Yuck.
The more authentic Italian food is, the less I like it. I tried to get a tuna hoagie from an Italian deli, but he refuses to use "American" mayonnaise, which means the tuna is all dry and crumbly and falls out as you eat it.
What an exquisite dish, with so much character. I haven't tried it but it is indeed a thing of beauty! If it tastes as good as it looks it should be given some degree of iconic status.
God I LOVE Your COOKING & HUMOUR!!! THXUUUUUU CHEF JOHN! BIG OXO
Looks delicious, can't wait to make !! We love sardines too !
Awesome recipe! thank you!
Gee, i used to eat sardines with my Dad when i was little, and i used to like anchovies on my pizza so i should like this. Great recipe.
I have to try this....when I can get my fennel to grow as we can't get it here. Looks amazing! I love the idea of the raisins.
That looks Awesome, Tasty and Very Healthy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Olá Chef! Adoro suas receitas. São excepcionais. Parabéns. Abraços do Brasil . . . 🤗🤗🤗!!!!!
Absolutely tip-top, no hard cooking, all stay fresh.
Sardines and noodles for me tonight as I am all prepped, but next time it will be this way... thank you, Chef.
You sold me on another one of your recipes! Going to try it tonight.
Best recipe to date. Love it. CJ, you brought me back to my childhood. Thanks!
I have found my new youtube addiction! This chef is amazing, and so funny. What a charming guy. Very informative like Alton Brown, with a voice like John Tesh. perfection. :)
I’ve always made basic sardines with pasta and dried herbs with a few chopped black olives, but I’m going to try this recipe, looks fantastic. Thanks.
I use dill as well as fennel and alot of lemon zest ... love this recipe! Tx!!
This dish is a masterpiece in balance. It's on my hit list.
Fascinating!!...and I do love sardines
My mom is Sicilian and used to make a similar dish. She would boil the pasta with cauliflower and/or broccoli and use some of that water for the sauce which contained toasted pine nuts, anchovy, hot pepper and capers. The pasta and cauliflower would finish cooking in the sauce, then she would top with the toasted breadcrumbs and grated parmesan. Brings back great memories. I'm definitely going to try this dish, thank you.
I used this recipe/technique and it is now my favorite pasta. Chef John is a godsend!
EDIT: Well I substituted lesser goods for the expensive stuff but still...
I tried this the other day not because I like sardines but because chef John has never steered me wrong. I didn't have the saffron infused wine, the pine nuts or golden raisins and had to substitute and it was still delicious!
I cooked it (easier than I expected) and enjoyed it, the recipe is abso-freaking-lutely amazing!
Love!! Great recipes Chef John!!!!
I'm so hungry now,I definitely make this looks so yummy!,thank you for the recipe,your the best.
I can't wait to try this dish. Two of my favoruite ingredients are fennel and the store had cans of sardines on sale this week! Talk about timing. Pine nuts are really scrummy too.
Absolutely brilliant, as always. Chef John, I have to tell you,that, I used 5 of your side dishes at x-mas. They went lovely with our turducken. Many thank's.
That sounds great. A keeper recipe !
I have made this about 3 times now. Delicious
I didn't know that I needed this, but I NEED THIS. I'm going to buy the ingredients tomorrow and try this.
me encantó!!! Gracias Chef John!!!
I'm italian but i must say your pasta recipes are always spot on! If i may, i don't think bucatini is quite the best for this sauce, i think they're good only for tomato based sauces, spaghetti in this case maybe would help grab more of that FREAKIG DELICIOUS sauce you got.
Totally agree. The bucatini pasta kinda ruins the dish, I think. Spaghetti ristoranti would be much better. (I'm italian too)
Mm i doubt any italian would say spaghetti ristoranti ahah sorry. I guess you're american with italian origins :)
don't mean to sound annoying though, i'm just playing
MrPoznano
Non so che tipo di spaghetti compri tu, ma quelli che ho sempre comprato io (qui al sud) si chiamano così, è un tipo di formato di spaghetti. Poi ci sono altri formati che non mi piacciono (gli spaghettini, per esempio, o i capelli d'angelo...). I bucatini proprio li detesto XD e no, sono proprio italiana.
ahah ok scusa! mi sembrava qualche storpiatura americana. Non li conoscevo, ma del resto sono un piemontese mangiariso :) , ciao!
Dear crazy people, this is a recipe. If you don't like the ingredients in this recipe, please look for a recipe with ingredients you actually DO like. Elsewise, please zip it~ ( which is akin to asking for a miracle, I'm sure! ) LOL!
adorable recipe
That pasta-water makes a big difference, but only if the pasta has already been cooked in it! Starch and Salt :)
Excellent demontration as always.
Great video that is exactly the way I cook it since I don't have finnochi selvatico I use just fennel this recipe is awesome
Gonna have to try this one day.
This is exactly like the pasta con le sarde that I had on Sicily. Great work, Chef John. The people from Sicily only use a fork to eat their pasta, no spoons.
My wife is Chinese. I made her Spaghetti Bolognese and she promptly started eating it with chopsticks. They are way better than a fork for any noodles!
I'm not a fan of sardines, but I can say with assurety that I am a fan of your commentary Chef John.