Sardine & Olive Spaghetti

Instructions

1. Prepare Cooking Water

   1 min hands-on5 min waiting

   • Fill a large pot with water and season with salt.
   • Bring to a rolling boil over high heat.

2. Prep Garlic and Parsley

   3 min hands-on

   • Finely slice the garlic cloves and set aside.
   • Roughly chop the fresh parsley, reserving a small portion for garnish.

3. Sauté Aromatics

   2 min hands-on

   • Heat olive oil in a large frying pan over low heat.
   • Add sliced garlic and cayenne pepper, stirring for 1-2 minutes until garlic is fragrant and golden.

4. Incorporate Sardines

   1 min hands-on2 min waiting

   • Add drained sardines to the pan.
   • Break sardines into small pieces with a wooden spoon and warm through for 2-3 minutes.

5. Add Olives and Brine

   2 min hands-on

   • Roughly chop green olives and add to the pan.
   • Pour in a small splash of olive brine and stir well.

6. Rehydrate and Add Sun-Dried Tomatoes

   2 min hands-on8 min waiting

   • If firm, soak sun-dried tomatoes in warm water for 5 minutes, then drain and chop.
   • Add tomatoes to the pan and cook for another 2-3 minutes.

7. Cook Pasta

   1 min hands-on8 min waiting

   • Add whole-grain spaghetti to boiling water.
   • Cook for about 8 minutes or until al dente, stirring occasionally.

8. Combine Pasta Water and Sauce

   1 min hands-on

   • Reserve about 1 cup of pasta water before draining.
   • Add one-third cup of reserved water to the sardine mixture, stirring to loosen the sauce.

9. Toss Pasta in Sauce

   2 min hands-on

   • Drain cooked pasta and transfer to the pan with the sauce.
   • Toss thoroughly over medium heat for 1-2 minutes, adding more pasta water if needed.

10. Finish with Parsley and Seasoning

    1 min hands-on

    • Stir most of the chopped parsley into the pasta.
    • Adjust seasoning with salt and black pepper.

11. Plate and Garnish

    2 min hands-on

    • Divide pasta onto plates.
    • Drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle reserved parsley, and add black pepper.
    • Cooking tips:
    • To prevent the garlic from burning, keep the heat low and stir continuously while sautéing.
    • Use a high-quality olive brine for an extra punch of flavor, or substitute with caper brine for a tangier twist.
    • For a spicier kick, increase the amount of cayenne pepper or add red pepper flakes before serving.
    • Whole-grain pasta tends to absorb more liquid, so keep extra pasta water handy to maintain the sauce's juiciness.
    • For a more vibrant flavor, squeeze fresh lemon juice over the plated dish just before serving.