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Fish, Italy

Sardines beccafico with green salad

Sardines beccafico are Sicilian sardines rolled around a filling of breadcrumbs, raisins and pine nuts. This recipe serves 4, takes 50 minutes, rates medium difficulty, and costs €3.60 per person. The key is removing the center bone cleanly so the fillets roll without tearing.

We're making sardines beccafico, rolled around a Sicilian filling of breadcrumbs, raisins and pine nuts.

Sardines beccafico with green salad
Total time
50 min
Difficulty
Medium
Cost per person
€3.60
Calories per person
440 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Summer

Under the golden breadcrumbs, the sardine stays tender while the filling delivers that classic Sicilian sweet and savory balance, crunchy pine nuts against soft raisins. Lemon juice and bay leaves lift the flavors without covering up the fish. It's a dish that feels different from the usual grilled sardines.

This is a summer dinner recipe for when you have a bit more time, rolling each fillet calmly instead of rushing. It works well for guests curious about Italian cooking, but the rolling takes some patience, so it's not the best pick for a rushed weeknight with kids.

The ingredients

4 people

Fish counter

  • Fresh sardines 12

Pantry

  • Breadcrumbsoften in the pantry 60 g
  • Raisinsoften in the pantry 30 g
  • Pine nutsoften in the pantry 30 g
  • Lemon juiceoften in the pantry 1 tbsp
  • Bay leavesoften in the pantry 6
  • Olive oiloften in the pantry 5 tbsp
  • Saltoften in the pantry 1 pinch
  • Pepperoften in the pantry 1 pinch

Fruits and vegetables

  • Parsley 6 sprigs
  • Green salad 1

Allergens Fish, Gluten, Tree nuts

The step by step recipe

  1. Scale, gut and butterfly the sardines.

    Ask your fishmonger to butterfly the sardines for you, it saves about 20 minutes.

  2. Toast the breadcrumbs in the oil with the pine nuts. 3 min

    Stir constantly, breadcrumbs go from golden to burnt in just a few seconds.

  3. Mix the breadcrumbs with the raisins, parsley and lemon juice.

    Soak the raisins in warm water for 10 minutes first, they turn out juicier.

  4. Fill each sardine with the stuffing, roll it up and place it with a bay leaf.

    Slide a bay leaf between each roll, it scents the fish and keeps the rolls separate.

  5. Bake at 190°C, then serve with the green salad. 15 min

    Drizzle a little oil over the rolls halfway through baking to keep the breadcrumbs golden.

Our tips to get it right

  • Pick sardines that are fresh and similarly sized, they roll more evenly and cook at the same pace.
  • Pack the filling gently into each fillet without overstuffing it, or it will spill out during baking.
  • Arrange the rolls tightly against each other in the baking dish, they hold their shape better while cooking.

The variations

  • Swap the pine nuts for toasted sliced almonds for a bolder flavor and a cheaper option.
  • For a vegetarian version, stuff grape leaves or small round zucchini with the same filling.
  • To save time, make the filling the day before and just roll and bake on the day you serve.

What to serve it with

  • Lemony green salad
  • Crusty bread or focaccia
  • Chilled Sicilian white wine

Storage

Sardines beccafico keep for 2 days in the refrigerator in a sealed container. They don't freeze well since the fish texture changes. Reheat in the oven at 160°C for a few minutes to keep the breadcrumbs crisp.

Questions about this dish

Can you prepare sardines beccafico ahead of time?

You can roll the sardines a few hours ahead and keep them covered in the fridge until baking time. Bake them just before serving so the breadcrumbs stay crisp.

How do you butterfly a sardine without damaging it?

Scale and gut the fish first, then open it along the belly and lift out the center bone with your fingers. The flesh comes away easily if the sardine is very fresh.

Can you use frozen sardines instead of fresh ones?

Yes, as long as you thaw them fully and pat them dry before butterflying. The texture will be slightly softer than with very fresh sardines.

What drink pairs well with this dish?

A dry, chilled white wine, like a Sicilian white or Muscadet, balances the sweetness of the filling. For a non alcoholic option, sparkling water with lemon works just as well.

How long does it take to make sardines beccafico with a green salad?

Count 50 min in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “medium”.

How many calories are in sardines beccafico with a green salad?

About 440 kcal per serving, for a recipe meant for 4 people. Calories are calculated by Kiloach, your weight coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does sardines beccafico with a green salad cost?

About €3.60 per serving, or €14.40 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains fish, gluten, tree nuts. Always check the labels of the products you buy.

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