Sunday, 16 January 2011

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Francesco da Mosto's Bigoli In Salsa

Francesco says: 'I really enjoy making "bigoli in salsa", or spaghetti with sardines. It's a well-known dish in Italy.'

Serves 4

Ingredients

100g/3½oz sardines
200g/7oz white onions, chopped
75g/3oz Tuscan olive oil
400g/14oz Bigoli pasta or spaghetti
Coarse salt
A handful of raisins and pine nuts
Black pepper 

Method

1 Clean and prepare the sardines, removing all the fine bones. Then in a frying pan, sauté the onions in the olive oil until they brown, stirring often and adding some water or white wine so they don't burn.
2 Meanwhile, boil some water for the Bigoli, throwing in some coarse salt.
3 When the onions are brown, add the sardines. Break them up roughly using a wooden spoon as they cook, adding the raisins (washed and drained), pine nuts and black pepper.
4 Take the spaghetti out of the boiling water for 1 min when it's still al dente and cook for 1 min more together with the sardines, etc, in the frying pan.
5 Serve immediately accompanied by a good red Merlot.

Writer and historian Francesco da Mosto is the charismatic star of the BBC's travel series Francesco's Italy. The book which accompanies the show is available from www.bbcshop.com or by calling 08700 777001.