Sarde in saor (Venetian-style sardines)

Ingredients

For the Scappi marinade

• 1 tbsp olive oil

• 300g/10½oz onions, finely sliced

• 4 tbsp white wine

• 4 tbsp wine vinegar

• 6 tbsp vino cotto (strongly reduced red wine); if unavailable, eliminate the wine, wine vinegar and vino cotto from the ingredients and use 10 tbsp balsamic vinegar instead

• 100g/3½oz sugar

• pinch saffron powder

For the sardines

• 1kg/2lb 3oz very fresh sardines, cleaned, gutted and scaled

• salt, to taste

• plain flour, for dusting

• olive oil, for shallow frying

To serve (optional)

• lemon wedges

• chopped fresh parsley