Pasta with Fresh Sardines

Method

1. Clean the sardines: remove heads, guts, backbone, and dorsal fin. Cut them in half lengthwise.
2. In a large pan, heat a drizzle of olive oil over medium heat. Add the thinly sliced spring onion and cook gently until softened.
3. Add the salted anchovy fillets and stir until they dissolve into the oil.
4. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add the whole wheat spaghetti and also the parsley stems for extra flavor. Cook until al dente.
5. While the pasta cooks, add the cleaned sardine pieces to the pan with the onions and anchovies. Cook gently for a few minutes.
6. Cut the tomatoes into small pieces and add them to the pan. Cook just until warm, keeping them fresh.
7. Finely chop the parsley leaves and add them to the pan. Season with salt to taste.
8. Drain the pasta (reserving some pasta water if needed) and transfer it to the pan. Toss well over low heat until the sauce coats the pasta. Add a splash of pasta water if needed.
9. Serve immediately, garnished with extra parsley if desired.