Best 7 Simple Grilled Fresh Sardines Recipes

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Grilled sardines are a delicious and healthy meal that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. They are a good source of omega-3 fatty acids, protein, and vitamin D. Sardines are also a relatively inexpensive fish, making them a great option for budget-minded shoppers. If you are looking for a simple and flavorful way to cook sardines, grilling is the way to go! In this article, we will share a recipe for simple grilled fresh sardines that will surely tantalize your taste buds.

Here are our top 7 tried and tested recipes!

SIMPLE GRILLED SARDINES



Simple Grilled Sardines image

Grilled fresh sardines are often offered on restaurant menus, but it's very easy to make them at home, whether over hot coals or under the broiler. At the fishmonger, look for firm, shiny, glistening specimens. Sardines are a sustainable fish choice and are high in healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Most importantly, they are extremely delicious. For a Mediterranean touch, grill the fish on fig leaves: After cooking the sardines on one side, lay four fig leaves on the grill and place two fish, cooked side up, on top of each leaf to finish cooking. The fig leaves will add a subtle perfume to the sardines (they look beautiful, too), but they are not edible.

Provided by David Tanis

Categories     dinner, easy, quick, seafood, appetizer, main course

Time 30m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 6

8 fresh sardines (about 1 1/2 pounds), cleaned and scaled
Salt and pepper
Extra-virgin olive oil
2 medium fennel bulbs, trimmed and very finely sliced
Lemon wedges
2 tablespoons chopped parsley, for garnish

Steps:

  • Prepare a medium-hot charcoal fire or stovetop grill pan, or light the broiler.
  • Season sardines inside and out with salt and pepper and paint both sides lightly with olive oil.
  • Lay sardines on the grill and cook them on one side for about 2 minutes, until nicely browned. (Sardines rarely stick to the grill.) Carefully flip sardines and cook for about 2 minutes more, until just done.
  • Transfer each portion to individual plates. Put the sliced fennel in a bowl and season with salt and pepper. Dress with about 2 tablespoons olive oil and a squeeze of lemon. Place a pile of dressed fennel evenly on each plate. Serve with lemon wedges and a sprinkle of parsley.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 297, UnsaturatedFat 8 grams, Carbohydrate 9 grams, Fat 12 grams, Fiber 4 grams, Protein 36 grams, SaturatedFat 3 grams, Sodium 683 milligrams, Sugar 5 grams

GRILLED FRESH SARDINES



Grilled Fresh Sardines image

The modest sardine turns into a delectable appetizer when grilled with salt, pepper, and a brush of olive oil.

Provided by Martha Stewart

Categories     Food & Cooking     Appetizers

Number Of Ingredients 8

8 medium whole fresh sardines (about 1 pound total), gutted, rinsed inside and out, and patted dry
1 tablespoon plus 1 1/2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
3/4 teaspoon coarse salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
6 inch baguette (about 4 ounces), cut diagonally into 16 thin slices
1 garlic clove, peeled
Vegetable-oil cooking spray
1 lemon, cut into wedges, for serving

Steps:

  • Brush both sides of fish using 1 tablespoon oil. Season with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper.
  • Rub cut sides of bread with garlic. Brush with remaining oil, and sprinkle with remaining salt and pepper.
  • Heat a grill pan over medium-high heat. Coat with cooking spray. Grill bread until crisp, about 1 minute per side. Grill sardines until cooked through, about 2 minutes per side. Serve on a platter with bread and lemon wedges.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 236 g, Cholesterol 65 g, Fiber 1 g, Protein 26 g, SaturatedFat 2 g, Sodium 466 g

GRILLED SARDINES



Grilled Sardines image

Provided by Food Network

Categories     appetizer

Time 50m

Yield 2 servings

Number Of Ingredients 9

6 medium sized fresh sardines
1/2 handful coarse sea salt
2 baking potatoes, like russets
2 red bell peppers
1/4 cup Portuguese olive oil, plus 1/4 cup
1/8 cup white wine vinegar
1/2 onion, thinly sliced
2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
Salt and white pepper

Steps:

  • Scale and gut the sardines (you can have your fishmonger do this). Wash the sardines under cold, running water and pat dry with paper towels. Lightly salt the sardines with coarse sea salt and refrigerate. Meanwhile, boil 2 potatoes until a knife is easily inserted. Drain and cool.
  • Roast 2 red bell peppers over an open flame until charred. Place in a bowl and cover it with plastic to allow it to steam for approximately 20 minutes. Remove the plastic and peel and seed the peppers.
  • Cut peppers into 3-inch wide strips and combine in bowl with 1/4 cup of olive oil, 1/8 cup white wine vinegar, onion, and garlic. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
  • Preheat a grill.
  • Place the sardines on a hot grill. Cut potatoes in half lengthwise and place on the grill. When the sardines are done on first side, flip them over, and give the potatoes a quarter turn to create the grill marks.
  • Place 3 sardines on each plate with 2 potato halves and some red pepper salad. For decoration and extra flavor, sprinkle with some thinly sliced onions and garlic over the sardines and drizzle with remaining olive oil.
  • The ideal accompaniment for this dish is some Portuguese rolls and a nicely chilled Vinho Verde Portuguese wine.

SIMPLE GRILLED FRESH SARDINES



Simple Grilled Fresh Sardines image

Provided by Martha Stewart

Categories     Food & Cooking     Appetizers

Number Of Ingredients 7

12 fresh sardines, (about 1 1/2 pounds), cleaned, rinsed, and patted dry
1/3 cup olive oil
1 1/2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh herbs, such as parsley, chervil, thyme, tarragon, or basil
Juice of 1 lemon
Freshly ground pepper
1 tablespoon sherry-wine vinegar
Olive oil cooking spray, for grill pan

Steps:

  • Place sardines in a shallow dish. Top with olive oil, 1 1/2 tablespoons herbs, and lemon juice. Turn to coat. Cover with plastic wrap, and let marinate in refrigerator for 30 to 60 minutes.
  • Heat a large grill pan over high heat. When grill pan is hot, spray well with cooking spray. Season sardines with pepper. Place on grill pan, and grill until golden brown and cooked through, 1 to 2 minutes per side. Remove to a serving plate.
  • Sprinkle sardines with parsley. Drizzle with sherry wine vinegar; serve immediately.

GRILLED SARDINES



Grilled Sardines image

Provided by Food Network

Categories     main-dish

Time 34m

Yield 2 appetizer portions

Number Of Ingredients 2

4 whole sardines (fresh, not canned)
1 lemon

Steps:

  • Preheat a barbecue or indoor grill to 350 degrees F (190 degrees C). Place sardines on grill. Grill 4 minutes on each side (use medium heat setting on your barbecue or grill). Remove from heat.
  • Place grilled sardines on serving plate, cut a fresh lemon in half. Squeeze half of the lemon over sardines. Slice the remaining half lemon and add lemon slices to the serving plate as garnish.

GRILLED SARDINES



Grilled Sardines image

What to do about seafood? Nutritionists say we should eat more, that many types of fish are nutritious and contain fats that seem to protect the heart. I know from experience that many of them can make for fine meals. If you've only had sardines from a can, you may turn up your nose at them. Fresh ones will change your mind. Brush them with olive oil, toss a few sprigs of rosemary onto a hot grill, and grill them. Sardines take two to three minutes to grill and about that long to eat. They're a rare treat and a great nutritional package, containing omega-3 fats, selenium, vitamin B12, calcium, niacin and phosphorus.

Provided by Martha Rose Shulman

Categories     dinner, main course

Time 15m

Yield Serves four

Number Of Ingredients 6

24 medium or large sardines, cleaned
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Salt
freshly ground pepper
A handful of fresh rosemary sprigs
Lemon wedges

Steps:

  • Prepare a hot grill, making sure the grill is oiled. Rinse the sardines, and dry with paper towels. Toss with the olive oil, and season with salt and pepper.
  • When the grill is ready, toss the rosemary sprigs directly on the fire. Wait for the flames to die down, then place the sardines directly over the heat, in batches if necessary. Grill for a minute or two on each side, depending on the size. Transfer from the grill to a platter using tongs or a wide metal spatula, and serve with lemon wedges.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 160, UnsaturatedFat 8 grams, Carbohydrate 1 gram, Fat 10 grams, Fiber 0 grams, Protein 15 grams, SaturatedFat 2 grams, Sodium 197 milligrams, Sugar 0 grams

GRILLED FRESH SARDINES WITH FENNEL AND PRESERVED LEMON



Grilled Fresh Sardines with Fennel and Preserved Lemon image

Categories     Citrus     Fish     Herb     Onion     Braise     Lemon     Fennel     Grill/Barbecue     Gourmet

Yield Makes 6 (First course) servings

Number Of Ingredients 19

For fennel
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 medium fennel bupounds (sometimes labeled "anise"; about 1 1/2 pounds total), stalks discarded and bulb halved lengthwise, then cut into 1/2-inch-wide wedges
1/2 red onion, cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices (1/2 cup)
4 teaspoons finely chopped rind (zest and white pith) from preserved lemon
1/4 teaspoon fennel seeds, crushed
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 cup water
For sardines
12 fresh sardines (about 2 to 3 ounces each), cleaned, leaving head and tail intact
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
1/4 teaspoon crushed fennel seeds
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
1/3 cup coarsely chopped fresh dill
Special Equipment
a well-seasoned ridged grill pan

Steps:

  • Cook fennel:
  • Heat oil in a 10-inch heavy skillet over moderate heat until hot but not smoking, then cook fennel, onion, preserved lemon rind, fennel seeds, salt, and pepper, stirring occasionally, 5 minutes. Add water and braise, covered, stirring occasionally, until fennel is very tender and slightly caramelized and water is evaporated, about 10 minutes. Keep warm, covered.
  • Grill sardines while fennel cooks:
  • Rinse sardines and pat dry, then spread out on a platter. Drizzle sardines with 1 tablespoon oil and sprinkle with sea salt, fennel seeds, and pepper.
  • Heat grill pan over moderately high heat until hot. Oil grill pan and grill sardines, in 2 batches if necessary, turning over once, until just cooked through, 4 to 5 minutes total per batch. Transfer as cooked to a clean platter with a slotted spatula.
  • Stir together lemon juice and remaining 2 tablespoons oil. Serve sardines on fennel mixture sprinkled with dill and drizzled with lemon dressing.

Tips:

  • Choose fresh sardines: Select firm and shiny fish with clear eyes. Avoid any with a slimy texture or an off odor.
  • Clean the sardines properly: Remove the scales, head, and guts. Rinse the sardines thoroughly under cold water.
  • Score the sardines: Make shallow diagonal cuts on both sides of the sardines. This will help the marinade penetrate and ensure even cooking.
  • Marinate the sardines: Combine olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, herbs, and spices in a bowl. Place the sardines in the marinade and let them rest for at least 30 minutes.
  • Grill the sardines: Preheat your grill to medium-high heat. Brush the grill grates with olive oil to prevent sticking. Place the sardines on the grill and cook for 3-4 minutes per side, or until cooked through.
  • Serve immediately: Grilled sardines are best served hot off the grill. Garnish with fresh herbs and a squeeze of lemon juice.

Conclusion:

Grilled fresh sardines are a delicious and healthy meal that can be enjoyed as part of a balanced diet. They are a good source of protein, omega-3 fatty acids, and essential vitamins and minerals. Sardines are also relatively inexpensive and easy to find, making them a great option for budget-minded home cooks. With a little bit of preparation and a few simple ingredients, you can create a delicious and nutritious meal that the whole family will enjoy.

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