Sardine Roulades with Swiss Chard, Almonds, Raisins and Mint
- 4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1/2 medium onion, peeled and diced
- 2 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed
- 1 bunch Swiss chard (about 1/2 pound), blanched, squeezed and coarsely chopped
- Salt and freshly ground pepper
- 1 1/2 tablespoons toasted slivered almonds
- 1 mint sprig, leaves only, chopped
- 1 tablespoon golden raisins, soaked in hot water for 10 minutes
- Six 3-ounce fresh sardines, butterflied with tail attached and deboned
- 1 lemon, 1/2 cut into 6 slices and 1/2 juiced
- 1/2 cup flat-leaf parsley leaves
- Preheat the oven to 375 and position a rack in the center.
- In a large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil over moderate heat.
- Add the onion and garlic and cook, stirring, until the onion is translucent, 6 to 7 minutes.
- Add the Swiss chard, season with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring, for 5 to 7 minutes.
- Remove the pan from the heat and discard the garlic.
- Stir in the almonds, mint leaves and raisins.
- Season with salt and pepper, if needed.
- Let the stuffing cool to room temperature.
- Season the sardines with salt and pepper and place on a work surface, vertically, with the tails pointing away from you, skin side down.
- Divide the stuffing by 4 and spread over the body of each sardine, excluding the tail.
- Starting from the the part closest to you, roll each sardine up and use a small skewer or a toothpick to secure the tail to the roulade.
- Grease an 8-by-8-inch baking pan with 1 tablespoon of olive oil.
- Put the roulades in the baking pan and drizzle the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil over them.
- Put a lemon slice in between each of the roulades.
- Transfer to the oven and bake for 7 minutes.
- Remove the pan from the oven and sprinkle lemon juice and parsley leaves over the roulades.
- Serve immediately.
extravirgin olive oil, onion, garlic, swiss chard, salt, almonds, mint sprig, golden raisins, fresh sardines, lemon, flatleaf parsley
Taken from www.foodandwine.com/recipes/aspen-2006-sardine-roulades-with-swiss-chard-almonds-raisins-and-mint (may not work)