Mediterranean Whole Grain Pasta

Instructions

1. Prepare Ingredients

   6 min hands-on

   • Mince the garlic and shallots.
   • Drain anchovies, sardines, and sun-dried tomatoes, reserving excess oil.
   • Chop sun-dried tomatoes into small pieces.
   • Juice the lemons and set aside.
   • Rinse and dry the capers.
   • Finely chop dill, reserving some for garnish.

2. Start Sauce Base

   2 min hands-on

   • Heat a small amount of olive oil in a skillet over medium heat.
   • Add minced garlic, shallots, and cayenne pepper.
   • Sauté for 1-2 minutes until aromatic.

3. Melt Anchovies

   2 min hands-on

   • Add anchovy fillets to the skillet.
   • Break them down with a spoon into the garlic and shallot mixture.
   • Cook for 1-2 minutes until dissolved.

4. Add Tomatoes

   3 min hands-on14 min waiting

   • Add chopped sun-dried tomatoes and reserved sardine oil to the skillet.
   • Stir and cook over medium heat for 12-15 minutes until reduced.

5. Cook Pasta

   4 min hands-on10 min waiting

   • Boil salted water in a large pot.
   • Cook whole-grain pasta until al dente.
   • Reserve some pasta water before draining.

6. Finish Sauce

   2 min hands-on2 min waiting

   • Stir sardines into the reduced sauce, breaking them into chunks.
   • Add reserved pasta water and lemon juice.
   • Simmer for 2 minutes.

7. Combine Pasta and Sauce

   2 min hands-on1 min waiting

   • Add cooked pasta to the skillet.
   • Toss over low heat until coated.
   • Stir in most of the chopped dill and cook for 1 minute.

8. Crisp Capers

   2 min hands-on6 min waiting

   • Heat remaining olive oil in a small pan over medium-high heat.
   • Fry capers for 5-6 minutes until crispy.
   • Drain on a paper towel.

9. Plate and Garnish

   2 min hands-on

   • Serve pasta in bowls.
   • Top with cottage cheese, crispy capers, and reserved dill.
   • Finish with black pepper to taste.
   • Cooking tips:
   • Use medium heat when sautéing the garlic and shallots to prevent burning.
   • For extra flavor, add a small splash of sardine oil to the sauce.
   • Toss the pasta with the sauce while still warm to help the flavors bind better.
   • If the sauce seems too thick, add a splash of reserved pasta water to loosen it up.
   • Ensure the capers are thoroughly dried before frying to achieve maximum crispiness.