Best Grilled Sardines Recipes

GRILLED FRESH SARDINES

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.

GRILLED SARDINES

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 SARDINES

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.

GRILLED SARDINES

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.

SARDINHAS ASSADAS / PORTUGUESE GRILLED SARDINES

Steps:

• Rinse the sardines and remove the scales, then sprinkle liberally with the sea salt and leave for at least 1 hour.
• Preheat your grill, broiler or barbecue so that it's nice and hot.
• Rinse the sardines under some water and then dry them with papertowels.
• Brush the sardines with a little olive oil and then grill for several minutes each side until they are cooked.
• Serve immediately with a dash of olive oil drizzled over the tops, and sea salt sprinkled over them.

GRILLED HARISSA SARDINES WITH FENNEL & POTATO SALAD

Steps:

• Cook the potatoes in boiling salted water until tender, about 15-20 mins. While they're cooking, remove any tough outer leaves from the fennel and trim the tops, keeping any feathery fronds. Halve lengthways and remove the little hard core from each piece and discard. Cut the fennel into very fine slices using a mandoline or a sharp knife. Put them in a bowl and squeeze over the lemon juice. When the potatoes are tender, drain well and toss with the fennel, olives, extra virgin olive oil, some seasoning and the reserved fronds.
• If the sardines haven't been scaled, remove by hand under running water, then wash out traces of blood from the inside and dry with kitchen paper.
• Heat the grill. Mix the oil with the harissa (see our recipe). Put the sardines on a grill tray covered with foil. Brush them with the harissa oil (on both sides), season with salt and put under a very hot grill and cook for 4-5 mins each side, or until cooked through. Pour over the lemon juice and scatter with the parsley. Serve on the fennel and potato salad with wedges of lemon for squeezing over.

GRILLED SARDINES AND ASPARAGUS WITH CITRUS, CHILES AND SESAME

Steps:

• Prepare a medium-hot grill. Break off the woody ends of the asparagus, and peel each stalk from the flower all the way to the end. Blanch the asparagus in salted water until bright green but slightly crunchier than you want. Spread them out on a baking sheet, and allow to cool.
• Brush the sardines with a small amount of olive oil, and season with salt and a big pinch of the sesame seeds. Toss the cooled asparagus with olive oil, and sprinkle with salt and sesame as well.
• Break up the chiles into manageable pieces, and grind in a coffee or spice grinder to a coarse texture. Rehydrate the chiles by mixing with a couple of tablespoons of boiling water.
• Pound the garlic with a mortar and pestle until it is a roughish purée. Chop the herbs. Mix the chiles, garlic and herbs with enough olive oil to make a thick but pourable sauce. Add a pinch of salt, and taste.
• Put the sardines on the grill, and cook until fairly brown and halfway done. Carefully flip them over, and grill on the other side. Larger sardines will take 3 or 4 minutes on each side, smaller ones about 2 minutes on each side. Grill the asparagus for about the same time.
• Spread the citrus on a platter, and lightly season with salt. Place the hot sardines and asparagus on top of the citrus. Spoon over some of the herby chile sauce, and sprinkle the rest of the sesame over the top. Serve the remaining sauce on the side.

GRILLED MONTEREY SARDINES WITH LEMON AND HERBS

Steps:

• Place sardines in 11 x 7 x 2-inch glass baking dish. Sprinkle fish with 1 teaspoon coarse salt. Cover and refrigerate 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, prepare barbecue (medium-high heat). Combine cilantro, parsley, and lemon peel in small bowl. Mix olives and onion in another small bowl. Brush sardines lightly with oil. Sprinkle half of herb mixture over sardines; turn to coat. Grill sardines until just opaque in center, 1 to 2 minutes per side, depending on size.
• Arrange sardines on platter. Sprinkle with olive mixture, then remaining herb mixture. Sprinkle with freshly ground black pepper. Garnish with lemon wedges.

GRILLED FRESH SARDINES WITH FENNEL AND PRESERVED LEMON

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.

SIMPLE GRILLED FRESH SARDINES

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 MONTEREY SARDINES

Steps:

• Whisk together all marinade ingredients and marinate the sardines for 2 hours
• For the Salsa: Mix all the ingredients in a large bowl.
• Preheat grill to medium heat. Lightly oil the grill. Place the sardines on the preheated grill and discard marinade. Cook sardines for 5 to 7 minutes (depending on size) or until they flake easily with a fork. Serve with angel hair pasta, and/or antipasto salad, if desired.

GRILLED SARDINES WITH GARLIC WALNUT SAUCE

Steps:

• For the grilled sardines: Add the sardines, salt and lemon juice in a bowl. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, for the garlic-walnut sauce: Add the walnuts, parsley, dill and garlic in a food processor. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Blend until finely ground. With the food processor running, add the olive oil and blend until smooth. The mixture should resemble pesto.
• Heat the grill (preferably charcoal) to high for direct grilling. Remove the sardines from the bowl and pat dry. Brush the sardines with canola oil and sprinkle with pepper. Grill the sardines until golden brown and slightly charred, about 3 minutes. Flip the sardines over and continue grilling for 1 minute. Transfer the sardines to a platter and drizzle with the garlic-walnut sauce and garnish with the parsley and lemon zest.

GRILLED SARDINES WITH SAN PEDRO BARBECUE SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat a grill. Mix oil, garlic and lemon juice, then grill fish, using sauce as barbecue sauce and brushing on during grilling. Grill until fish is done, when fish is about to flake and turn opaque. Sprinkle with finely chopped Italian parsley, garnish with lemon wedges and serve.

GRILLED SARDINES WITH LEMON-PEPPER VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Preheat grill. Wash the sardines and soak in cold water for 10 minutes. Dry well. Grill the sardines for 3 to 5 minutes until just cooked through.;
• Place lemon juice and shallot in a blender and blend until smooth. Slowly add the olive oil and blend until emulsified. Add pepper and salt and blend for 5 seconds.

PASTA WITH GRILLED SARDINES AND BITTER GREENS

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat.
• Heat oil and butter in a large, heavy, straight-sided skillet over medium-high heat. Add shallots and cook, stirring, until well browned, about 5 minutes. Reduce heat to low; continue to cook, stirring occasionally until very soft, about 5 minutes. Season with salt, pepper, and red-pepper flakes.
• Add dandelion greens and saute until just beginning to wilt, about 3 minutes. Add frisee and cook until wilted, about 5 minutes. Add chicken broth and bring to a simmer. Cook until greens are tender.
• Heat grill pan over medium-high heat and brush with oil. Drizzle sardines with lemon juice. Season sardines with salt and pepper. Cook 3 minutes per side and transfer to a cutting board. Fillet the sardines, discarding bones; set aside.
• Add pasta to boiling water until al dente, then drain, reserving some of the cooking water. Add pasta to the greens mixture and gently stir in lemon zest, parmesan, and sardine fillets. Season with salt and pepper. Stir in enough of the reserved cooking water to form a sauce. Serve immediately with additional lemon zest, cheese, and a drizzle of olive oil.

SARDINES WITH GRILLED BREAD AND TOMATO

Steps:

• Prepare grill for medium-high heat; oil grate. Brush both sides of bread with 2 tablespoons oil total and grill, turning occasionally, until toasted and lightly charred, about 4 minutes. Transfer grilled bread to a plate.
• Season sardines inside and out with salt and pepper (no need to oil them, as there is so much naturally in their skin). Grill, turning occasionally, until lightly charred and cooked through, 5-7 minutes.
• Serve sardines with tomato and grilled bread drizzled with oil and topped with basil.

GRILLED SARDINES WITH SAUTEED JOI CHOI AND GINGER FISH SAUCE

Steps:

• For the fish sauce: Add 8 quarts water, sugar, sardine scraps, ginger, bay leaves, chile flakes, sardine skeletons, garlic, peppercorns and some salt to a large pot and simmer until reduced by half.
• In a medium saucepan, saute the joi choi over medium-high heat for 1 to 2 minutes in the olive oil. Deglaze the pan with a splash of fish sauce and add the parsley. Let reduce for 1 more minute.
• For the sardines: Preheat a grill to medium-high heat.
• Scale and gut the sardines. Push skewers through the mouth of each fish to the tail in order to make grilling easier. Coat the fish in the olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place the fish on the grill and cook for 1 1/2 to 2 minutes on each side. Make sure the eyes are white to determine that the fish are finished.
• To serve: Place the greens on a plate and place the grilled sardines on top.

GRILLED FRESH SARDINES

Steps:

• 1. Combine the first 3 ingredients in a mini food processor, and process until pureed. Add olive oil and kosher salt to shallot mixture; pulse to combine. Place sardines in a shallow dish; rub inside and outside of fish evenly with shallot mixture. Cover and chill for 3 hours. 2. Prepare charcoal fire in a chimney starter; let coals burn until flames die down. Pour hot coals out of starter; pile on one side of grill. Coat grate with cooking spray; put grate in place. 3. Place sardines over direct heat; grill for 2 minutes on each side. Move fish over indirect heat, and grill for 5 minutes or until desired degree of doneness.

GRILLED SARDINES WITH LEMON, GARLIC, AND PAPRIKA

Steps:

• Combine the garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, paprika, and black pepper in a small bowl and whisk well to combine. Arrange the sardines in a single layer on the bottom of a shallow baking dish and pour the marinade over the fish. Turn the fish to ensure they are coated evenly, and spoon some of the marinade into the cavity of each fish. Set aside to marinate for 30 minutes. Set all of the burners on a gas grill to the highest heat setting, cover, and preheat for 10 minutes. Clean and oil the grilling grate. Remove the sardines from the marinade and grill over direct heat until well-charred, 2 to 3 minutes. Using a metal spatula or fish turner, flip the sardines over and grill until charred on second side and cooked through, about 2 minutes longer. Transfer the sardines to a large platter and season with salt. Garnish with chopped parsley and serve with lemon wedges.

GRILLED SARDINES WITH POTATOES AND PEPPERS

Steps:

• With scissors, slit underside of each fish; pull out guts. Rinse out cavity and pat dry. Sprinkle inside and out with pinch of the salt and some of the pepper; let stand for 30 minutes.
• In saucepan of boiling salted water, cook potatoes until tender, about 20 minutes. Drain and keep warm.
• Place green peppers on greased grill over high heat; close lid and grill, turning often, until charred. Let cool enough to handle. Peel off blackened skin; seed and cut into 3/4-inch (2 cm) wide strips. Place in large bowl.
• Place fish in grilling basket or on greased grill over high heat; close lid and grill, turning once, until skin is golden brown and crisp, 6 to 12 minutes. Arrange in centre of serving platter.
• If desired, cut warm potatoes into chunks; add to peppers. Add onion, olives and parsley. In small bowl, whisk together oil, vinegar and remaining salt and pepper; pour over potato mixture and toss to coat. Arrange around fish.
• Garnish with lemon wedges.