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How does one cook fresh sardines please

14 replies

AnyFucker · 21/03/2022 13:28

The good weather inspired me to pick up some Mediterranean fare. Do you simply grill fresh sardines ? Put them in the oven ? I don’t have a bbq presently nor any of those fancy air fryer thingies.

OP posts:
maddy68 · 21/03/2022 13:30

Sprinkle with Rock salt and grill

Really simple

actiongirl1978 · 21/03/2022 13:31

We fry ours, brush with a tiny bit of oil and pan fry.

I am the sardine bone remover in our house so I have lots of experience!

AdaColeman · 21/03/2022 13:41

Shallow pan fry in a little olive oil, for about 4 or 5 minutes. You can tuck in or scatter some herbs such as oregano or thyme if you like.
Season and serve with wedges of lemon and bread & butter.
The taste of summer at the seaside! Wine Wine

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IBelieveInAThingCalledScience · 21/03/2022 13:47

Portuguese person here.

Like PP, in this house we use Maldon salt + smallest drizzle of olive oil and grill them.

We serve them with grilled/charred bell peppers, green salad and sourdough.

WeaverofWords · 21/03/2022 13:50

I make a paste of thyme or oregano with olive oil & garlic, few slices of lemon, and fry.

Once on a plate cover with garlic slivers, put another plate over for it to evaporate.

AnyFucker · 21/03/2022 13:53

I have green salad and olive bread to accompany. My store cupboard is rather bare for cooking any sauces but I do have some allioli dip which we love.

OP posts:
BonjourCrisette · 21/03/2022 13:56

I am now salivating at the thought of sardines. What a good idea.

If you do have a lemon or even a bottle of lemon juice it is a really good addition, but bread, salad and alioli also sound perfect.

ivykaty44 · 21/03/2022 13:57

Outside

Ihaventgottimeforthis · 21/03/2022 13:58

Depending on how fresh they are, how about a ceviche?

nearlyspringyay · 21/03/2022 14:07

@ivykaty44

Outside
Inside, and make sure my windows are closed!
ivykaty44 · 21/03/2022 15:33

nearlyspringyay

if you like the smell

I use a camping hot plate and cook outside with a pan, otherwise the house smells for days

Otherpeoplesteens · 21/03/2022 17:24

Another Portuguese here. As a preference I'd also sprinkle with rock salt and grill over charcoal along with some peppers (green ones traditionally, although it's an acquired taste to British palates) and serve with a green salad and either sourdough bread or boiled potatoes. Throw on some chopped garlic and parsley right at the end of cooking if you want.

British barbecue recipe books suggest gutting them before cooking, but no self-respecting Portuguese would bother doing that. Scale them though, if this hasn't been done for you, and eat the skin.

If there's no access to a bbq, then I prefer use a ridged grill pan on the hob, because the extractor tends to deal with the aroma better than if I grilled using the thing in the oven. They can also be panfried - my mother used to dredge them through seasoned flour if doing this.

If the oven is going on anyway then that is also an option. This works well with a marinade of olive oil, chopped garlic, and lemon.

Another serving suggestion which most of my regular sardine guests like is a salsa of chopped sweet pepper and avocado with parsley.

I believe the traditional Cornish way of cooking and serving them is the Stargazy Pie. Personally I couldn't think of a worse way to waste sardines, but each to their own.

AnyFucker · 21/03/2022 18:27

Thanks all

OP posts:
LadyGardenersQuestionTime · 21/03/2022 18:37

@Otherpeoplesteens Thankfully "traditional" in the sense of "highly photogenic and quirky dish that someone once made in 1821 and someone else painted in a charming bucolic scene which then became famous" rather than traditional in the sense of what everyone has on Friday night in Cornwall.

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