Sweet-and-sour marinated sardines with onions, raisins, and pine nuts from Venice. This high protein mediterranean dish is fresh, rich in omega-3s, and a healthy family appetizer with ancient roots.
Clean and fillet the sardines, patting them dry before coating each fillet thoroughly with all-purpose flour.
Heat olive oil in a wide skillet over medium heat. Fry the sardine fillets in batches for 2-3 minutes per side, just until golden; avoid overcrowding and do not overcook.
Slice the onions thinly. In a separate pan, sauté the onions in a bit of olive oil over medium-low heat for 10-12 minutes until soft, glossy, and translucent.
Stir in the raisins and pine nuts with the softened onions, then add the white wine vinegar, sugar, salt, and black pepper. Simmer gently for 5 minutes to fuse sweet-and-sour aromas.
In a shallow dish, layer the fried sardines and cover with the warm onion mixture. Cover and marinate in the fridge for at least 4 hours (preferably overnight) to allow flavors to meld before serving.