Pasta with Masculini

Sebastian Fischer - CC3.0

Pasta with masculini is one of the great classics of traditional Catania cuisine, a first course that brings together some of the most typical ingredients of the Etna area. Pasta con i masculini can be considered the oriental version of pasta with sardines that is popular in the western part of the island. The main ingredients of the Catania-style pasta are masculini, i.e. fresh anchovies, and wild fennel. The considerable popularity of the dish has favored the spontaneous rise of many variations: it is possible to find peas, breadcrumbs or tomato sauce in pasta con i masculini.