Any tips to start liking sardines for someone who hates them

[Altontowersq]

I don't like fish aside from fish and chips but I've been hearing about the health benefits of sardines and bought some the other day in an attempt to get to like them. Initial taste was grim but manageable but I only had a teaspoon and it repeated on me all day. My partner said the same thing and he eats tuna etc normally. Any tips?

Buy the variety in tomato sauce, mash them up with salt and pepper and teaspoon of mayo, spread on toast then grill. Really tasty. Also look for recipes for Sicilian sardine pasta, really good.

Did you just have them cold out of the tin? I will only eat the ones in tomato sauce, grilled, on toast.

Well if you want the health benefits of oily fish why don't you just swallow fish oil capsules?

I love sardines but I can understand people not liking them as they can be quite strong. The can be bought in brine, oil or tomato sauce. I think the tomato sauce'd ones are easiest to take to. I also add pepper and tomato ketchup. Serve spread thinly on a thick slice of sourdough toast thickly buttered. Just serve a small portion till you get used to it. (think I'll go and do some now - yum...yum)

If it's just the omega 3 maybe try mackerel in brine instead? Mashed up with a bit of vinegar, onion & pepper it makes a lovely sandwich.

Just make sure you're downwind of anyone wanting a chat immediately after

I bought the ones in olive oil, I'll have a look at the tomato one. Do other people find that they can taste them all day? I kept eating and drinking all day to get rid of the taste but nothing worked

Definitely recommend the following:-
Buy (or add) tomato sauce to sardines. Mash and add to hot toast. Warm them under the grill then add grated cheddar, mixed herbs and sliced tomatoes. Grill again until the cheese bubbles.
Delicious!

Eat them with pasta. Make a tomato sauce, mash in 1 sardine so you can’t see it. Gradually increase the number of sardines over time you’ll get used to it! I got my sardine hating mother to eat them like this!

I'll generally eat anything, all fish and seafood. Sardines are the devil's work, can't eat them, ditto anchovies, and sea urchins, but that's about it. There's just something about the crunch.....

Mash the ones in oil (after draining) with balsamic vinegar and have on Wholemeal sandwiches with thinly sliced cucumber.

I love tinned sardines esp in olive oil, sometimes mashed with soft cheese or on top of goats cheese on rice cakes.
(My cat loves sardines too)

Flaked up in rice with sweet corn and peas was one of my kid's favorite 10 minute teas.

Get some of the flavoured ones, Tesco Finest have lovely spicy ones with lime and coriander or Waitrose have various types with lemon and herbs that are great in pasta or a salad.

Why specifically sardines? Have you tried smoked mackerel, for example?

You want these! The pepperiness distracts from fishiness. (Though I love the taste of sardines.) One year I was the biggest buyer of them in my area, according to Ocado.

I feed them to the dog and they still make me gag.

Take fish oil capsules if you think you need it. I eat fish about twice a year at most and rarely is it oily fish

I can't stand them as they are but love them in a pate de sardinha (fish paste to you and I) - had them in Portugal once and now I make it regularly, even my kids will eat it.

I make it like this, some recipes add tomato too. It's basically tin of sardines, a bit of butter, lemon juice, seasoning and whizz it up. Great as a dip or spread on bread.

https://beinspired.au/recipes/portuguese-sardine-pate/

Don’t not use those
drain the oil - it’s good for you so don’t worry if a left
i personally always go to effort to remove main spine bone- I know others don’t but I don’t like texture it gives. The tiny bones won’t matter
flake well with fork and then add tomato purée, some Worcester sauce or lemon juice. Or if all else fails tomato ketchup
you can add whatever you want to even tomato sauce ones then; a bit of smoked paprika, dill, cayenne, basil or curry powder- endless option. Lemon juice or lime is good to get a bit extra moisture in as well at vitamin c
mix to a loose pate - add a tadge of water if needed
spread and grill

Fry a thinly sliced onion. Add drained tin of sardines, a finely chopped large tomato, black pepper. You know the big jars of red peppers you can buy? Drain and chop a couple of bits of pepper and add to the mixture.
Use this as filling with a roll of puff pastry to make a big flat square pie.
Cook for about half an hour at 180c fan.
Delicious hot or cold!

I don’t like them at all… the tiny bones freak me out.
Mackerel is very nice though. Salmon is an oily fish too.

Oh no, can’t stand the smell, let alone the taste.
Will stick to tuna.

I feed them to the dog 1-2 times a week. Cat won’t touch them.

For me, fresh sardines, either barbecued or grilled and of course olive oil! The simpler the better.

As somebody else said, finely chopped into a tomato based pasta sauce, if you like that. And slowly increase the amount. Good luck!