Next Food Network Star 4th of July challenge

Serena Palumbo

I grew up in Italy and always heard about the 4th of July. Finally, when I moved to New York six years ago, I celebrated this wonderful holiday with my friends and I cooked this recipe.

I still remember how my friends loved this Sicilian dish with a patriotic twist and it was a great alternative to the more traditional burgers.

Sardines are also known in Italy as Blue Fish
so these skewers have the colors of the
American flag!

Sardines Skewers with Sicilian Crunch

Serves 4

Ingredients:

• 12 medium sardines, cleaned by the fishmonger
• 12 cherry tomatoes
• 12 boiled cauliflower florets, pre boiled

For the crunch:

• 2 cups of bread crumbs
• 1 cup of basil, mint parsley chiffonade
• ¼ cup of pine nuts, chopped
• 6 anchovies, chopped
• ½ cup of EVOO
• ¼ cup of raisins, chopped
• Juice of a lemon
• 4 skewers
• 1 pastry brush

Directions:

For the crunch:

1. In a skillet over medium heat toast the breadcrumbs, the sardines, pine nuts, raisins and ¼ cup of EVOO
2. Remove from heat and stir in the chiffonade and let it cool

For the skewers:

1. Place the sardines skin down on a cutting board, stuff them lightly with the crunch and roll them. Skewer them alternating the cherry tomatoes and the cauliflowers
2. Brush with the remaining EVOO and grill on both sides for 3 minutes
3. Finish the dish by sprinkling more crunch on the skewers and few drops of lemon juice
    

Next: Dzintra Dzenis’ Red, White & Blue 4th of July Party Dip