Provençal Sardines
6 tablespoons olive oil, divided
2 slices prosciutto, cut in shreds
1 onion, sliced thin
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 pound plum tomatoes, peeled, seeded, chopped, about 2 cups
4 red and yellow bell peppers, roasted, peeled, seeded and chopped
1/2 cup white wine
4 salted anchovies, rinsed, chopped
12 sardines, about 1 1/2 lbs.
salt to taste
freshly ground black pepper to taste
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1/4 cup fine fresh breadcrumbs
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
Heat 4 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the
prosciutto and cook until soft, 5 minutes. Add the onions and cook 3 to 5
minutes. Add the garlic and cook about 1 minute, then add the tomatoes and
peppers.
When the tomatoes begin to melt, add the white wine and anchovies; reduce
the heat. Cook until the liquid has evaporated, about 30 minutes. Season
with salt and pepper.
To clean the sardines, cut the head at the top and the bottom just behind
the gills, cutting to but not through the spine. Grasp the head and give it
a twist to snap the bone, then pull gently to remove it. Most of the
entrails will come away with the head. Discard these. Using the point of a
sharp knife or kitchen scissors, slit the sardine open along the belly and
rinse it well. Still using just the tip of the knife, cut through the fine
ribs on either side of the spine without cutting all the way down through
the skin. Grasp the spine and gently work it free down to the tail. Snap the
bone at the tail and discard the spine. Cut off the fins and remove any fine
bones. Repeat with the remaining filets. The fish will be served flesh-side
down, so that side can look less than perfect.
Pat the filets dry and neaten them up, trimming the tops and the belly flaps
to make rectangles. Season with salt and pepper on both sides. Brush the
skin sides with mustard, then sprinkle them with breadcrumbs. Pat to fix the
crumbs in place.
Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large nonstick skillet
over high heat. When the oil is almost smoking, add the sardines, skin-side
down and reduce the heat to medium. Cook the sardines until you see the meat
on the top of the flesh side begin to turn color, 4 to 6 minutes.
While the sardines are cooking, reheat the tomatoes and peppers. Just before
serving, add the basil and mix well.
Spoon the tomato-pepper mixture in equal portions onto six small plates.
Lift the sardines from the skillet with a slotted spoon and place 2 of them
skin-side up on each mound of the tomato-pepper mixture. Serve immediately.
Makes 6 servings.
Calories 319, Fat 2 g, Carbs 1 g, Sodium 314 mg, Fiber 3 g.
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