Marinated sardine fillets (Sardoncini marinati)

Marinated sardine fillets (Sardoncini marinati) | Special Recipes
Marinated sardine fillets (Sardoncini marinati) | Special Recipes

Marinated sardine fillets (Sardoncini marinati)

The name of the recipe is “Sardoncini marinati”, a typical recipe from the Adriatico sea coast. I tasted the recipe for the first time during a recent visit to Cesenatico, where my gourmet friend Ernesto prepared it form me. In Italy, during the sardine season, people buy the fresh sardines from their local fishmonger and then they fillet the fish and leave the fillets immersed in vinegar overnight, putting the container in the fridge. With the vinegar some people like to add a bay leaf and a clove of garlic. The day after, they rinse the fillets under fresh water and complete the marinate as per following instruction. I have skipped the first stage (filleting the sardines and leaving them immersed in vinegar overnight) because, unless you have the chance to buy fresh sardines from a reputable supplier, I wouldn’t go for that road. I prefer to play safe and use canned sardines or even jarred anchovy fillets as I did for this recipe. In fact, my family preferred the anchovy version of this recipe. It is an excellent quick-fix lunch.
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 4 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Italian
Servings 4
Calories 650 kcal
Italian Apron
Serving bottles
Classic Italian Cooking

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Ingredients
 

  • 3 Medium size red onions
  • Jarred anchovy fillets
  • Canned sardine fillets
  • 60 ml (2 fl oz) Red wine vinegar 
  • Extra virgin olive oil
  • Balsamic vinegar
  • A small bunch of flat leaf parsley (finely chopped)
  • Salt and black pepper for seasoning

Instructions

  • Finely chop the parsley and set it aside.
    Marinated sardine fillets (Sardoncini marinati) | Special Recipes
  • Slice the onions, making 2 mm (1/16") thick slices.
    Marinated sardine fillets (Sardoncini marinati) | Special Recipes
  • Put the onions inside a pan with fast boiling water.
    Marinated sardine fillets (Sardoncini marinati) | Special Recipes
  • Leave the onions to boil for 3 or 4 minutes. This will tenderise the onion and also will help to take away part of their strong flavour.
    Marinated sardine fillets (Sardoncini marinati) | Special Recipes
  • After 3 or 4 minutes of boiling, refresh the onion under cold water (to stop them cooking), then drain them.
    Marinated sardine fillets (Sardoncini marinati) | Special Recipes
  • Put the onions in a large container to rest.
    Marinated sardine fillets (Sardoncini marinati) | Special Recipes
  • Next, take as many sardine or anchovy fillets (I used both) as you like and lay them down onto kitchen paper.
    Marinated sardine fillets (Sardoncini marinati) | Special Recipes
  • Gently pat them with kitchen paper to remove excess oil from the jar or can (usually sunflower oil).
    Marinated sardine fillets (Sardoncini marinati) | Special Recipes
  • Take a deep dish and generously pour in some good quality extra virgin olive oil.
    Marinated sardine fillets (Sardoncini marinati) | Special Recipes
  • I have two dishes because one is for the anchovy fillets and one for the sardine fillets.
    Marinated sardine fillets (Sardoncini marinati) | Special Recipes
  • Now, spread the onions into the dishes.
    Marinated sardine fillets (Sardoncini marinati) | Special Recipes
  • In each dish add 30 ml (1/8 cup) of red wine vinegar.
    Marinated sardine fillets (Sardoncini marinati) | Special Recipes
  • Add few drops of good quality balsamic vinegar into the dishes.
    Marinated sardine fillets (Sardoncini marinati) | Special Recipes
  • Season with pepper.
    Marinated sardine fillets (Sardoncini marinati) | Special Recipes
  • Season with salt.
    Marinated sardine fillets (Sardoncini marinati) | Special Recipes
  • Add the fillets into the dishes.
    Marinated sardine fillets (Sardoncini marinati) | Special Recipes
  • Garnish with parsley.
    Marinated sardine fillets (Sardoncini marinati) | Special Recipes
  • Using two large spoons, gently mix all the ingredients. If using sardine fillets, be very gentle and try not to break them. The picture shows the oval dish with the sardine fillets and the square one with anchovy fillets.
    Marinated sardine fillets (Sardoncini marinati) | Special Recipes
  • I like to serve this dish on grilled slices of Italian country loaf.
    Marinated sardine fillets (Sardoncini marinati) | Special Recipes
  • Finally, a “crostone” (large slice of grilled bread) topped with the recipe.
    Marinated sardine fillets (Sardoncini marinati) | Special Recipes
Italian Apron
Serving bottles
Classic Italian Cooking

Nutrition

Calories: 650kcal
Keyword Specials
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Published
Categorised as Specials

By Federico

Federico Pezzaioli is an ex-badass Italian Paratrooper on a mission - to make creating delicious authentic Italian food really easy. He researches, writes and photographs each recipe with the same attention to detail he used to apply to packing his parachute.

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