Sardine pie (tortino di sardelle)
Sardines (sardina pilchardus) are still VERY cheap fish in my country. With less than 2 euros I can cook a dinner for a family. (Of course I dont' spear them, too small target).
Ingredients for two or three persons:
500 grams fresh sardines
500 grams finely grated bread
a spoonful of balsamic vinegar.
extravirgin olive oil
a garlic clove
half glass white dry wine
a little salt and pepper
fresh lemons
How to proceed.
1) Wash the sardines, take off the heads, open the fillets and take away guts and the whole spine trying NOt to split the fillet (this one requires a bit of manual skill), leaving the tail where it is. Wash again the cleaned fillets and let them rest each side by side on a pan (don't make piles: each fish side by side), where you spread on half glass of white wine, 4 spoonfuls of olive oil and a pick of pepper.
2) in a jar mix the grated bread, 4 spoonfuls of olive oil, one or two picks of salt, more pepper and the finely minced garlic.
3) cover the sardine pan with the mix of grated bread and stuff.
4) cook in preheated oven at 200 C° for say some 15 minutes. Pull the pan out when the bread cover turns blonde.
5) Pour on the whole the fresh juice of two lemons and serve, cutting the "pie" in square slices, accompanied with your favourite salad and a cool dry white wine.
Sardines (sardina pilchardus) are still VERY cheap fish in my country. With less than 2 euros I can cook a dinner for a family. (Of course I dont' spear them, too small target).
Ingredients for two or three persons:
500 grams fresh sardines
500 grams finely grated bread
a spoonful of balsamic vinegar.
extravirgin olive oil
a garlic clove
half glass white dry wine
a little salt and pepper
fresh lemons
How to proceed.
1) Wash the sardines, take off the heads, open the fillets and take away guts and the whole spine trying NOt to split the fillet (this one requires a bit of manual skill), leaving the tail where it is. Wash again the cleaned fillets and let them rest each side by side on a pan (don't make piles: each fish side by side), where you spread on half glass of white wine, 4 spoonfuls of olive oil and a pick of pepper.
2) in a jar mix the grated bread, 4 spoonfuls of olive oil, one or two picks of salt, more pepper and the finely minced garlic.
3) cover the sardine pan with the mix of grated bread and stuff.
4) cook in preheated oven at 200 C° for say some 15 minutes. Pull the pan out when the bread cover turns blonde.
5) Pour on the whole the fresh juice of two lemons and serve, cutting the "pie" in square slices, accompanied with your favourite salad and a cool dry white wine.
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