Sardines in saor

Sarde in saor appear as golden fillets of fried sardine laid beneath a soft bed of stewed onions, glossy with vinegar and fragrant with raisins and pine nuts. The flavor is a fascinating balance of sweet, sweet-and-sour, and briny notes, with the richness of olive oil coating the palate. The texture alternates between the delicacy of the fish, the softness of the onions, and the light crunch of the pine nuts. In Venice they are served mainly as an appetizer or cicchetto in a bacaro, often accompanied by an ombra of wine.