Pasta con le Sarde

Pasta con le Sarde is a traditional Sicilian dish. It is at its best during spring and summer months, when fresh sardines are available. Ingredients vary depending on the area but the dish usually incorporates sardines, wild fennel, saffron, pine nuts, and raisins or currants. Wild fennel grows rampantly across Sicilia and the fronds add a beautiful potency to the dish.

The sauce features bright contrasting flavors—sweet, savory, bitter, acidic, and salty—and is reflective of