Cavatelli, Sardines, Fennel, and Lemon

pasta + a tin of sardines = dinner magic. + ticket link for june supper club!

photo and styling assist by @francessalt

This dish is definitely in my top 3 of favorite pasta dishes. It’s light, but substantial, and flavorful from all the aromatics. It’s also the recipe I recommend to friends who tell me they want so badly to get into tinned fish but can’t get themselves to just eat a tin on its own. This, in my option, is the best place to start. The sardines paired with the lemon, fennel, and herbs don’t overpower each other but give a perfect balance of fat, acid and freshness. The kinda pasta I want to be having this summer! So if you have a friend, or you are that friend, who doesn’t like sardines, I think you should give this a go!

The recipes, and recipes following in this newsletter will be in the format of:
1. Whatcha need (tools, and pantry/fridge).
2. Substitution recommendations if you don’t have all that the recipe calls for on hand.
3. Let’s prep! Your Mise en place ("putting in place" or "gather"). What needs to be chopped, sliced, diced, zested, etc. Measurements all at the ready.
4. Let’s get cookin’!

At the end of each recipe I will include drinks I’m having with it and pairings I recommend!

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But first—some goodies for my freebies! and newbies to tinned fish:

• Fishwife- Smoked trout is personally my favorite, but everything Fishwife makes is delicious, if you haven’t tried it yet, now is your time! My favorite use for Fishwife smoked tinned fish is a filling for onigiri. But sooo versatile and good with basically anything!

• ABC+- A brand changing the traditional tin fish world by offering so many different types of fish in many different sauces like, Aglio e Olio, Brava, curry, and more.

• Tiny Fish Co.- Another place for tinned fish in flavorful sauce! The chorizo spiced mussels are unreal, and the Rockfish in sweet soy sauce. Open the tin, fill a bowl with rice, throw some herbs laying in your fridge on top and boom you have a meal.

• Sardines in spicy tomato sauce or spiced sardines in tomato sauce. There are so many different brands out there so find whatever you can get your hands on. I love eating these with crackers and butter or cheese. On a slice of bread with herbs and lemon. These were my gateway into the tin fish world!

  
  Basically, if you’re a newbie and looking for a tin fish to try, reach for some that are in a sauce, seasoned, or smoked, to give you more than just a one note fatty/oily fish flavor.
  

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Now to the recipe!

+ June Seattle Supper Club tickets at the end!