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Re: Have you ever cooked whole sardines?
15 May 2008 14:09

I haven't before, but have a bag of what appear to be quite large Portugues sardines in the fridge - frozen and now thawing out for dinner tonight. I think there are about 7 in the bag for just the two of us, so there will probably be left-overs to be creative with, too.

I was thinking of perhaps grilling them? Or pan frying? Or would baking be best? And should I pre-bone or serve whole with the bones still intact? All ideas and guidance very gratefully received!

Replies

By gerry: Re: Have you ever cooked whole sardines?
15 May 2008 14:25
Along the coast of Northern Spain they do whole smallish sardines a lot, grilled whole with sea salt and served simply. Maybe lemon to squeeze, as far as I remember.

By squeaky

Re: Have you ever cooked whole sardines?
15 May 2008 14:27

I'd grill them whole Jampling and serve very simply with lemon. Saying that, one of my favourite recipes is a Jocelyn Dimbleby one - stuffed with breadcrumbs, sultanas, pine nuts and orange (think it's Scicillian) - and baked in foil.

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By gerry: Re: Have you ever cooked whole sardines?
15 May 2008 15:03
Jampling, recipe from Telegraph
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/wine/main.jhtml?view=DETAILS&grid=&xml=/wine/2008/05/13/edsardinerecipe113.xml

By Yummy: Re: Have you ever cooked whole sardines?
15 May 2008 15:33
However you do them Jampling make sure they have been de-scaled first, I bought somealready filleted and they looked lovely, put them on the BBQ and still great but there were scales on them so that meant that the skin couldn't be eaten and was a bit fiddly as then we had to remove them on the plate. They are quite big scales for such small fish. However, it may be just the French don't scale them and you will be Ok with the ones you bought. They don't scale the salmon I know that !!
Bon Appetit
Yummy

By Loopy: Re: Have you ever cooked whole sardines?
15 May 2008 15:33
I'm so jealous. I would grill or pan fry and a wedge of lemon to squeeze goes down a treat. Enjoy. XXXX

By top conker: Re: Have you ever cooked whole sardines?
15 May 2008 16:01
HI Jamps,
I always grill them in the George Foreman machine,
they cook to perfection both sides then just serve them with lemon juice and crusty bread.
TC
XXX

By Francisca: Re: Have you ever cooked whole sardines?
15 May 2008 16:19
Being Portuguese I must confess that I don't like sardines still I know that you have to scale them if it hasn't already been done. You can either fry or grill them whole after taking their intestines out or you can open them like a butterfly, take the bones out and then coat them with egg and bread crumbs before you fry them in oil.

By Amelia: Re: Have you ever cooked whole sardines?
15 May 2008 18:20
Like Francisca ,I'm also a portuguese who loaths sardines(yuk), I can't stand the smell. In June we have popular feasts in honour of St. Anthony, St. John the Baptist and St. Peter, and people grill and sell them on the streets of the old neighbourhoods. I remember that my mother used to either grill or deep-fry them, and the house stank for days! Make sure they are de-scalled and gutted, and sprinkle them with sea salt and leave for a while before you grill. To deep-fry, flip them in flour.
Sometimes, fried sardines are served with - escabeche sauce - which consists of sliced onions fried in olive oil , and once they are golden add a splash of white wine vinegar, a sprinkle of paprika and finelly chopped parsley, pour over the sardines.
Amelia,

By Francisca: Re: Have you ever cooked whole sardines?
15 May 2008 22:26
Welcome to the club, Amelia....... I had the idea that hardly anybody hated sardines... I don't really think that they stink when they are grilled, I don't mind the smell but I won't try them. Anyway, you know a lot more about sardines than I do. We actually never ate them at my parents so I only see what people eat in restaurants and so.

By *Bramble: Re: Have you ever cooked whole sardines?
16 May 2008 05:29
Can I join this club? My OH loves sardines, but he is banished outside to cook them on the barbecue, I won't have the smell in the kitchen :-)))

By Francisca: Re: Have you ever cooked whole sardines?
16 May 2008 10:19
Mine loves them too, Bramble, but he never gets to eat them, poor soul........

By Jampling

Re: Have you ever cooked whole sardines?
16 May 2008 13:07

Thanks to all! If it hadn't been for the advice on here, I probably would never have thought of descaling the fish, which turned out to be horrendously coated in scales.

I ended up brushing the sardines with olive oil and tossing a little chopped parsley and lemon zest inside, then brilling until the skin was crispy brown. Served with a dash of lemon juice alongside Jamie's rosemary pots and a simple green salad.

They were delish! However...............................this morning my house stinks to high heaven :( I've tried vinegar in the microwave and am now burning a candle in the kitchen. Were they worth the after-stink?? Hmmmm....have to think about this! Maybe I'll tell you after we enjoy the remaining cold sardines in a nicoise salad for lunch.

By Jampling: Re: Have you ever cooked whole sardines?
16 May 2008 13:08
...that would be grilling, not brilling!

By Amelia: Re: Have you ever cooked whole sardines?
16 May 2008 16:50
Olá Francisca, I don't eat fish, except for our salted dried cod and monkfish, which aren't so fishy and smelly. Sadly for me, most of my enlarged family loves fish, sardines in particular, and in the summer time, they gather for barbecues near the beach and those are always on the menu. I'm considered a bit of a black sheep, because will come up with every excuse to stay away from these family gatherings, as I can't stand the smell, I really do get nauseated.
Até breve,
Amelia