These cheap fish can make an exclusive variety of dishes which are delicious, especially in Summer! Although many fishermen use sardines as bait, I must say that this fish are a large source of omega-3, protein, calcium, B12 and vitamin D. Another pro is that they are relatively bought for few euros – just ask the fishmonger to clean them for you by removing the backbone and opening them up. I was lucky to get a kilo of them last weekend and tried up the following recipes:
Fried Sardines
Fried sardines with lemon
- 8 filleted sardines
- 2 tblsp white wine vinegar
- flour
- olive oil
- fresh lemon wedges
- sea salt
Cook sardines for 30 minutes on low heat with 2 tblsp of vinegar. When ready flour them and cook them in hot olive oil until light brown. Serve with fresh lemon and sea salt.
Aubergine parmigiana with sardines
Sardine parmigiana
Ingredients for 4 persons:
- 800g filleted sardines
- 2 small aubergines
- 4 large fresh tomatoes
- 40g parmesan grated
- 2 garlic cloves
- fresh parsley
- fresh basil
- olive oil
Fry the aubergine slices in some olive oil and dry excess oil with a paper napkin. Chop the fresh tomatoes into cubes and tear the basil leaves into small pieces. Finely chop the parsley together with the garlic. Take a dish and start layering the parmigiana. Start with a layer of aubergines, top with the sardines, tomatoes, parsley, garlic and basil, scatter some parmesan and repeat layers until all ingredients are used. Cook in a pre-heated oven of 180 degrees celsius for around 30 minutes. Serve with some olive oil on top and crusty bread.
