Sarde In Saor – Fried Fresh Sardine Fillets with Vinegar and Pine Nuts
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Description
Sarde In Saor is a traditional Venetian dish featuring fried sardine fillets layered with a sweet and tangy mixture of onions, raisins, and pine nuts, perfect as a side dish or starter.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 12 fresh sardines, cleaned, heads and backbone removed and butterflied
- Flour for dusting
- Vegetable, seed, or olive oil for frying
- 250 ml white wine
- A handful of raisins
- 1 white onion, thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoons pine nuts
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
- 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
Instructions
- Dust the sardine fillets lightly in flour, shaking off any excess.
- Heat a generous amount of oil in a frying pan over medium-high heat. Once hot, fry the sardines in batches until golden and crisp, about 2-3 minutes per side. Remove and place on paper towels to drain. Season with salt.
- In a small bowl, soak the raisins in white wine for about 10 minutes.
- In the same pan, add a little more oil if needed and reduce the heat to medium. Add the sliced onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft and translucent, about 8-10 minutes.
- Add the soaked raisins, pine nuts, and white wine vinegar to the onions. Stir well and cook for another 2-3 minutes until the vinegar has evaporated slightly and the mixture is well combined.
- Layer the fried sardines in a dish, covering each layer with the onion mixture. Season each layer with salt and pepper to taste.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 24 hours to let the flavors meld. Serve at room temperature.
Notes
For best results, let the dish marinate in the refrigerator for at least 24 hours before serving to allow the flavors to develop. Serve at room temperature for optimal taste. You can substitute white wine vinegar with apple cider vinegar if preferred. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 5
- Sodium: 300
- Fat: 18
- Carbohydrates: 15
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 25
- Cholesterol: 60
