Sardines, very oily little fish, really love a lot of acid. It is hard to beat fresh lemon juice squeezed over them, but a vinegar — white wine, rice wine or white distilled — is also good. To give you a sense of how much to use, I often douse them in my choice of acid, almost as if I were treating them like escabeche.
Canned sardines come packed in water, oil, tomato juice, and other liquids in a tin can. You can eat them right out of the can, top them with onions or peppers, or add condiments such as mustard, mayo, or hot sauce. Usually, the heads have been removed, but you'll be eating the skin and bones.
There are a whole lot of options when it comes to sardines, but the best are packed in olive oil. Water-packed sardines just won't have the same rich flavor and can taste a bit water-logged. Oil, however, locks in the fish's flavor and keeps each sardine super-moist.
Sardine fillets can be grilled or pan-fried. Shaun Rankin and Adam Gray's recipes both use grilling to great effect, first rubbing the fillets with olive oil, a knob of softened butter and a squeeze of lemon juice before grilling skin-side up until the flesh is cooked through and the skin is golden and crispy.
We think carbonara or any cheese-based sauce goes really well with spicy and savory sardines. You can even go for something with a bit of zing, like a lemony sauce, giving you the kick you need in your meal.
Drain the oil out of the can.
Sometimes a recipe will tell you to use the oil straight from the sardine can– and I regularly use the canned oil in my cooking. However, keep in mind that the oil from the can will taste fishier than fresh oil.
Sardines are a type of small, oily fish that contain a lot of important nutrients. Both fresh and canned sardines have health benefits, including helping to fight inflammation and supporting the health of your heart, bones, and immune system.
Rinse off excess salt
If you can't find a brand that has a “No Salt Added” version, look for sardines that are packed in spring water. Then, rinsing the sardines may help to reduce some of the salt content. Just empty the can into a colander and rinse with cold water, shaking it and turning the sardines as you rinse.
Sardines are high in protein, rich in omega-3 fatty acids (associated with heart health benefits), and filled with certain important vitamins (especially D and B12) and minerals (such as calcium). However, sardines packed in oil are high in sodium and cholesterol, so daily consumption of them is not advisable.
For veteran sardine eaters, the sky's the limit! Sardines with bones and skin are delicious, too, and they look awesome on top of a salad or platter. P.S. The bones and skin are both edible. Those tiny bones deliver calcium too!
Sardines
Omega 3s are good fats, and contributes to about 30% the brain's weight, and alter dopamine and serotonin, which are brain chemicals linked to mood. Adding omega 3s to your diet is good for your brain's health, and keeps brain cells flexible and have it work more efficiently.
Level up your sardines snack! Flake the sardines and toss it into a bowl with diced tomatoes, onions, cilantro, and calamansi juice for an extra kick to your salsa. You can dip chips or add it to your favorite burrito.
Cooking fresh sardines will give you a taste of their true flavour that hasn't been altered by canning, smoking, curing or oils. Use lemon, spiced and fresh herbs to bring out the most of that subtle sea flavour.
Canned sardines
At the cannery, the fish are washed, their heads are removed, and the fish are then smoked or cooked, either by deep-frying or by steam-cooking, after which they are dried. They are then packed in either olive, sunflower, or soybean oil, water, or in a tomato, chili, or mustard sauce.
Fry the sardines in oil for 6-7 minutes.
Heat 1⁄2 cup (120 ml) of oil in a frying pan or cast iron skillet over medium heat. Work in batches, adding one layer of sardines to the pan at a time. Cook until they are golden brown, about 3-4 minutes. Flip them over and fry them until they're cooked through, about 3 minutes.
You can buy tinned sardines that are skinless and boneless, but the skin and bones are completely edible, supply a good amount of sardines' calcium content, and are soft enough that most people don't even mind (or notice) them.
Gutting sardines is mostly a matter of personal preference. While scaling them is a mandatory operation, the innards' bitter taste is prized in some cultures and is said to add a certain complexity to the fish.
Many cultures revere the humble sardine, especially when pulled sparkling fresh from the sea. In Sicily, Italians love to roll up sardines stuffed with breadcrumbs, garlic, herbs and a little tangy hard cheese, then bake them or throw them on a hot barbecue.
What temperature to oven bake canned sardines? Roast canned sardines for 3-5 minutes at 450 degrees Fahrenheit (232C). (This is the cooking time for the sardines after the veggies have been baking 40-45 minutes.) Remove your sardine bake from the oven and let cool several minutes before serving.
The FDA recommends a weekly intake of two to three servings of sardines, or 8 to 12 ounces for adults and 4 to 6 ounces for children age 4 to 7. The FDA recognizes the health benefits of eating fish, especially for pregnant people and young children.