How To Eat Sardines? 14 Delicious Ways

Fresh sardines are available only during certain seasons and are highly perishable. As it's better to eat them soon after purchase, fresh sardines can be enjoyed only as a seasonal dish. Not only are they delicate in texture and subtly sweet and briny in flavor, but they also have a high-fat composition that can bring a burst of flavor to any meal. This is why they stand as a celebrated ingredient in the culinary world, mainly in high-end restaurants.

The trend of eating canned fish in recent years is also not a new thing. Sardines and their relative fishes like anchovies are directly enjoyed from cans and the best thing about this version is that you don't have to prepare them-perfect for those who are into no prep, no fuss. Whenever you crave these fish, you just need to purchase a can from the store. Moreover, canned sardines are shelf-stable and can be stored for longer periods.

In conclusion, both fresh and canned sardines have their own fan following. Whichever method you prefer to enjoy these fishes, they are nutritious and are beloved ingredients in terms of taste.

When choosing sardines, whether you're a seafood lover or a newbie, it's important to be discerning, as not all sardines are good in quality(though the labels may promise you so!). The label on the canned sardines might seem helpful, but it’s often not fully accurate.

For those new to sardines, it’s important to pay attention to the liquid in the can. Olive oil-packed sardines, that are rich and less fishy, tend to be the best choice for flavor and texture. 

For those already familiar with their favorites, you know that brands or packaging that offer minimal ingredients are often the best, avoiding excess preservatives or artificial flavors. Also, always opt for the ones that indicate wild-caught sardines as the source, they have more natural flavors than the farmed ones.

If you want to know how to choose fresh sardines, remember these important points:

• Go for the ones that are shiny, firm, and have clear, bright eyes.
• Look for the smell, fresh sardines have a clean and slightly oceanic smell. Avoid the ones that smell overly fishy or sour.

Ways To Consume Sardines

Now, let's move to the different ways sardines can be enjoyed. For all the canned sardine lovers and the ones who only prefer fresh ones, we have included recipes for each of you:

Canned sardines are actually designed to be consumed straight from the can, don't worry about the flavors here! They are often sold headless, meaning they are ready to eat without any extra prep.

Canned sardines often come in liquid- olive oil, water, or tomato sauce. You simply have to open the can, drain the liquid and enjoy them as is. A squeeze of lemon, some hot sauce or garnish with fresh herbs are some alternatives to enhance the taste of sardines.

However you choose to rejoice on canned sardines, they work perfectly as a quick snack or as part of a larger meal.

You don't necessarily have to think something extra when it comes to enjoying sardines in a salad. Just replace the protein ingredient in your go-to salad, and you are all set.

For instance, if you are used to enjoying a Mediterranean salad, swap grilled chicken with the sardines you have been using. Fresh vegetables like cucumbers, tomatoes, olives, and feta will still pair beautifully with the rich, flavorful sardines.

Similarly, in a Greek salad, sardines can easily replace the usual chicken or tuna, adding a unique, rich taste to that classic Mediterranean flavor. Moreover, if you prefer something lighter, exchange the protein in a lemon-herb salad with sardines. The zestiness of lemon often brings out the best flavors of fatty sardines.

There are many ways to incorporate sardines into pasta. You can simply grill, both fresh and canned, sardines and flake them over your pasta. This method allows the smoky, charred flavor to infuse the dish. Also, as opposed to directly adding the canned fish to the pasta, grilling brings a crisp texture that in turn deepens the fish's natural flavor.

Alternatively, to add crispy fish to the pasta, you can fry the sardines. For this, simply bread and fry the sardines, then scatter them on top of a light pasta. An even simpler method exists, sauté sardines in olive oil and toss them with pasta for a simple meal.

Sardines on toast or crackers is a perfect way to enjoy this dish in your breakfast or as a snack, in any part of the day. Take your toast and swap sardines with your other protein source. Some lemon juice, salt and olive oil can make a wide difference here. Adding roasted tomatoes to the toast is also best to bring a balance to the briny richness of sardines.

For a perfect snack, spread mustard on whole-grain crackers, then top with sardines and a few slices of pickled cucumber or gherkins. The sharpness of the mustard and tangy pickles complements the sardines beautifully. Laying sardines on saltine crackers is also one of the best ways to enjoy savory snacks.

Fresh sardines, with their tender and fatty flesh, are a treat when grilled. The high-fat content of these fish makes them perfect for grilling, as the heat can only bring out their best flavors. A simple seasoning of olive oil, lemon, sea salt, and parsley will work here.

Smoky, crispy and bold in flavors, grilled sardines are perfectly accompanied by mild-tasting sides like grilled vegetables, a fresh green salad, or even a tangy tomato-based salsa.

Canned sardines, though already cooked, also lend themselves well to grilling. As a prep, simply brush them with olive oil and your favorite herbs before placing them on the grill for a few minutes. The crispy sardines can then be enjoyed in salads or alongside pasta.

For a quick recipe, start with a can of sardines. Drain the fish from the liquid and lightly mash them with a fork. Now, create a mix of mashed sardines, olive oil, lemon juice and seasonings. The sandwich mix turns out to be delicious!

What's important in this recipe is to choose sturdy bread, for that support. Any bread including whole grain, rye, or a rustic baguette will be a perfect choice. 

Moving to the assembling part, spread the sardine mix evenly over one slice of bread, and on the other, layer fresh ingredients like tomatoes, cucumbers, red onion, and greens.

If you prefer an extra tang in your sandwich, also add some pickled vegetables or olives. The sandwich tastes even better when toasted.

This delicacy takes advantage of the crispy texture of fried sardines paired with the satisfying crunch of fries. Prepare the fries first followed by the sardines.

For the sardines, if you're using fresh sardines, clean and gut them (if not already prepped). Coat sardines, fresh or canned ones, lightly in seasoned flour, making sure they are evenly covered. Season as you will and fry the sardines for about 2-3 minutes on each side until they get crispy.

Once the sardines are fried, serve them alongside your freshly made fries. A squeeze of lemon or a side of tangy tartar sauce or aioli, and you are ready to get the best flavors sardines have to offer.

Sardines fish cakes are delicious and take a few easy steps to prepare. The preparation starts with mashing canned sardines and boiled potatoes. To bind all the ingredients together, eggs or flour are used.

Next, the flavor of the fish cakes depends on how you season them. So, season the mixture well and once combined, give it the shape of patties. 

Get the patties in the pan and fry them for about 3-4 minutes on each side, or until they are golden brown and crispy on the outside. Use any tangy dips or garlic aioli for serving.

The rich, oily taste of sardines combined with aromatic curry spices-what can be better than this recipe! Just sauté all the aromatics, brown them and get all the spices together. For a spicy kick, add chili powder in enough amount.

The spices should be fried in mild heat followed by the addition of the sardines, canned or fresh. Cook the mix in any creamy sauce, simmer everything together for a few minutes. The curried sardines are best served over rice or with flatbreads for a complete meal.

In this recipe, you are preparing a replica of sushi. So, follow the steps below so that the bowl mimics a traditional sushi roll:

• First, make the spicy mayo sauce by mixing together mayonnaise with sriracha. This creamy, spicy sauce will complement the sardines and add a nice kick to the bowl.
• Next, cook your choice of rice. You can use sushi rice if you have one, or opt for brown rice or even cauliflower rice for a lighter option. 
• For the vegetables, use thinly sliced cucumber and for garnish, use avocado wedges.
• Assemble the bowl, start with the prepared rice as your base, top it with sardines, cucumber slices and avocado and drizzle some of the spicy sriracha mayo.
• If you have, add some seaweed (nori) sheets or strips to bring in that signature sushi flavor. Next, drizzle coconut aminos or tamari for an umami-rich taste and rice vinegar.
• Finally, garnish with sesame seeds and, if desired, microgreens for a fresh, vibrant touch. 

Polenta is just an Italian version of ground cornmeal and this is what will be making the crunchy crust in this recipe.

Take your sardines, remove the head, fins, and bones, and dip each of them into the beaten egg first. After that, roll both sides into the polenta mix.

For a healthy version, bake the sardines or you can also deep fry them. You can serve the final dish with salsa verde or any salad.

Sardine pate is simply a sardine paste. Although prepared with ease, pate can be an excellent replacement for canned sardines, as consuming straight from cans gets boring after a while.

The canned sardines are placed in the bowl and seasoned with olive oil, salt and pepper. The mixture is then mashed with the help of a fork. As a coarse paste is formed, add some butter and chopped shallot to add richness and sweetness to the dish.

Sardine pate is best served as a topping on bread and crackers.

This recipe is for fresh sardines. Broiling is a method of cooking that allows direct heat to bring out the natural flavors of the fish, and it works perfectly for sardines as well.

It's better to marinate sardines before heading to cook, especially if you enjoy the taste of fresh sardines but find them a little too “fishy". One of the best marinades combines soy sauce, rice wine, sugar, salt and freshly grated ginger.

After leaving for a few hours, place the sardines on a broiling pan and cook until the skin crisps up and the fish is cooked through.

Spanish sardines involve a slow-cooking method, designed to cook fresh sardines. Take a pot suitable for slow cooking and place olives and spices at the bottom. Also, add garlic.

Now, it's time for sardines. Make a layer of sardines above the spices and season them. Use chili flakes as well if you want sardines to be spicy.

The most important part, slow cooking, should be started once the whole mix is covered by olive oil and water. The mixture is simmered at least for 45 minutes until the liquid used in the beginning reduces to half.

Some tips that might come in handy while consuming sardines are listed below:

Tips For Eating Fresh Sardines:

1. Always opt for fresher sardines, characterized by bright, shiny scales and bulging eyes, for the best flavor.
2. Both skin and bones of sardines are edible, so it's not that important to remove these parts in any recipes.
3. For individuals who don't like the fishiness of sardines, consider marinating them, as long as possible.

Tipa For Eating Canned Sardines:

1. Always try to choose high-quality sardines, try to look for the ones that are MSCblueFish certified.
2. If the fish turns out to be too salty or fishy, drain and rinse them before consuming.