Sardines in tomato sauce are a favourite for both main dishes and pasta sauce. Even though it's not the official name, the fish were historically known as "blue fish" because of the contrast between their silvery bellies and the dark blue colour on their backs. The fish were originally a staple of Italian peasant food. Sardines have historically been associated with Italian peasant food, but they are now a mainstay of the Mediterranean diet. The following dish calls for fresh tomato sauce; we supply a straightforward recipe for it; feel free to add capers, olives, and fresh herbs to enhance flavour. Fried sardines are delicious on their own if creating the sauce seems intimidating.