Foodist Approved: Pesto Pasta Salad with Grilled Veggies and Sardines Recipe (2024)

Foodist Approved: Pesto Pasta Salad with Grilled Veggies and Sardines Recipe (1)

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Foodist Approved: Pesto Pasta Salad with Grilled Veggies and Sardines Recipe (15)

by Darya Rose | Jul 19, 2016

Foodist Approved: Pesto Pasta Salad with Grilled Veggies and Sardines Recipe (16)

Pesto Pasta with Grilled Veggies and Sardines

Yup, you heard that right, sardines! Sardines are a much-underutilized ingredient, but should be a staple you keep on hand in your pantry. They’re a great addition to pasta because they add satisfying umami flavor, protein, and a serious omega-3 boost.

Since sardines are much lower inmercury and other toxins, they’re my go-to over tuna (Darya’s too). My two-year-old loves them and eats them straight up out of the can (personally I prefer them mixed into dishes like pasta and egg salad).

For this pasta dish, I was inspired by the broccolini and summer squash at the farmers market, but feel free to mix it up and grill any assortment of summer favorites. Red peppers, eggplant, fennel, and asparagus are other reliable grill-time staples.

If you’re feeding a small army, I recommend doubling this recipe. It makes great leftovers and can be served cold as a salad for lunch the next day.

Pesto Pasta Salad with Grilled Veggies and Sardines

Serves 4


Ingredients
  • 8 ounces spaghetti, cooked according to package directions
  • 3/4 cup favorite pesto (homemade Kale Hazelnut Pesto)
  • 1 bunch broccolini
  • 2 zucchini or summer squash, halved lengthwise
  • 1 yellow onion, halved, remove papery skin
  • 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 can (4.375 ounces) sardines in olive oil, drained
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan
  • salt and ground black pepper
Preparation

In a large salad bowl toss the cooked spaghetti with the pesto (while the spaghetti is still warm).

Preheat the grill to medium-high. Drizzle olive oil on the veggies and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place veggies on the grill and cook until grill marks appear, rotating every 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board and chop into bite-size pieces.

Add the grilled veggies, sardines, and Parmesan to the pasta and toss to combine while breaking the sardines into pieces. Taste and add salt and pepper if needed.

Serve warm or at room temperature.

Elyse Kopecky is a whole foods chef currently co-authoring a cookbook for runners, Run Fast Eat Slow, with Olympic marathoner and longtime friend, Shalane Flanagan. After 10 years working for Nike and EA Sports, Elyse decided to pursue her passion for talking and writing about food. She went to NYC to study culinary nutrition at the Natural Gourmet Institute and has taken cooking classes throughout Europe, Africa and Asia. Sign-up for sneak peeks of Shalane and Elyse’s book at runfasteatslow.com or follow along@ElyseKopecky.

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  • 8 Comments

Tags: pasta, Recipes, sardines, Summer

Foodist Approved: Pesto Pasta Salad with Grilled Veggies and Sardines Recipe (17)

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8 Responses to “Foodist Approved: Pesto Pasta Salad with Grilled Veggies and Sardines Recipe”

  1. Foodist Approved: Pesto Pasta Salad with Grilled Veggies and Sardines Recipe (18)Tayla says:

    July 19, 2016 at 12:17 pm

    This recipe looks amazing! What a great way to use produce from my garden and incorporate the secret ingredient – sardines! Thanks for a great recipe idea 🙂

    Reply

  2. Foodist Approved: Pesto Pasta Salad with Grilled Veggies and Sardines Recipe (19)Wendy Laubach says:

    July 22, 2016 at 7:00 pm

    I love sardines, straight out of the can or on crackers, or really just about any way. We always keep several cans in the pantry for an emergency meal. Great on camping trips, too.

    Reply

  3. Foodist Approved: Pesto Pasta Salad with Grilled Veggies and Sardines Recipe (20)AJ says:

    July 25, 2016 at 2:05 pm

    Thanks for this recipe! I’m always looking for yummy ways to prepare/incorporate sardines. What are your favorite canned sardines?

    Reply

  4. September 21, 2016 at 7:42 am

    Hello Elyse,

    Amazing mouth watering recipe, I really impressed with your recipe, If I have some time this weekend then I will diffidently try this recipe at my home. Thanks a lot for sharing such a great pasta recipe with us.

    Reply

  5. Foodist Approved: Pesto Pasta Salad with Grilled Veggies and Sardines Recipe (22)Mary says:

    October 5, 2016 at 11:33 pm

    I just made this tonight! Better than I even imagined.

    Reply

  6. Foodist Approved: Pesto Pasta Salad with Grilled Veggies and Sardines Recipe (23)Emily says:

    April 28, 2017 at 12:52 pm

    Been looking for ways to encorporate sardines into my diet, thanks!

    Reply

  7. July 10, 2019 at 1:49 am

    Tried it! So delicious! Thank you for the recipe

    Reply

  8. Foodist Approved: Pesto Pasta Salad with Grilled Veggies and Sardines Recipe (25)Bryson Fico says:

    June 8, 2021 at 5:18 am

    We love your pesto recipe. The sardines added unique twist and the broccolini is perfect – better than standard broccoli.

    Reply

What do you think?

Foodist Approved: Pesto Pasta Salad with Grilled Veggies and Sardines Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Foodist Approved: Pesto Pasta Salad with Grilled Veggies and Sardines Recipe? ›

Sauté in oil, garlic, onions, and tomato with a bit of lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Gets rid of fishy smell and taste, and eat with a bowl of rice! Make a dip: Mash together sardines, mayo, chopped parsley, capers, lemon zest, lemon juice, salt and pepper to taste. Serve with crackers and chips.

What to serve with canned sardines? ›

Sauté in oil, garlic, onions, and tomato with a bit of lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Gets rid of fishy smell and taste, and eat with a bowl of rice! Make a dip: Mash together sardines, mayo, chopped parsley, capers, lemon zest, lemon juice, salt and pepper to taste. Serve with crackers and chips.

How to tolerate sardines? ›

Some ways to eat sardines other than plain out of the can include. Sardine Sandwich: Mash the sardines with mayonnaise, mustard, or other desired ingredients and spread it on bread for a delicious sandwich. Sardine Salad: Add sardines to your favorite salad recipe for an extra boost of flavor and omega-3 fatty acids.

How many times a week is it safe to eat canned sardines? ›

While canned sardines are a low-mercury fish choice, Manaker notes, "eating them frequently—as in more than four times a week—may be a concern, since you could potentially be exposed to too much [mercury]." While this shouldn't scare you (especially if you're consuming less than 8 ounces per week), it's important to ...

How do you jazz up canned sardines? ›

A Few Ideas for Sardines

Squeeze with more lemon or a splash of vinegar, and sprinkle with flaky salt and ground pepper. Eat open-faced, or top with another piece of bread for a sandwich. Heat a few tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet, and toast garlic until golden brown.

Why do I feel so good after eating sardines? ›

The potassium, magnesium, and zinc in sardines may help lower blood pressure while also improving your blood lipids. The omega-3 fatty acids in sardines have been shown to provide important support for the healthy development of a fetus's brain and nervous system.

How do the French eat canned sardines? ›

And as with all things culinary, the French really do them right. Whether they be grilled then bathed in extra-virgin olive oil before being tinned, or combined with a bit of gentle pepper, or layered with sliced lemon, or just simply put in the tin, they're delicious.

Can I eat sardines every day? ›

Is it safe to eat sardines every day? Eating fish like sardines is an important part of a healthy diet, but as with any food, moderation is key. The FDA recommends eating two to three servings of sardines per week. “It's smart to vary your seafood sources instead of eating the same type each week,” says Largeman-Roth.

Is it OK to eat a whole can of sardines? ›

The standard serving size of sardines is one can, which is about 3 ounces or 85 grams. Canned sardines can be eaten whole, as the bones are small and soft enough to digest.

What crackers go best with sardines? ›

Besides saltines, rectangular Club Crackers are another go-to. Pretty much all savory crackers are delicious with sardines, so experiment with your favorite crispbreads or flatbreads.

Should you rinse canned sardines? ›

Rinse Thoroughly: To mitigate saltiness, rinsing canned sardines under cold water before use can be effective. Balanced Meals: Pairing sardines with less salty ingredients in salads helps balance overall flavor.

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