These crispy sardines with tomato sauce are truly what comfort food is all about. We’re talking a ton of great flavors, basic everyday ingredients, and it’s all done in just 30 minutes. Serve them as a tapas appetizer or even as a main course. Next to some roasted potatoes and a garden salad.
To make this recipe, I used small Spanish canned sardines in olive oil. You can use other types of canned sardines if you like. Either way, make sure to be gentle when working with the sardines. Otherwise, they can easily break apart.
I served these crispy sardines next to a simple Spanish-style tomato sauce. Made with just olive oil, garlic, paprika, canned tomato sauce, and dried parsley. You can mix it up and use different spices/herbs. You can also add in a pinch of crushed red pepper for a spicy kick.
TIPS & TRICKS to Make this Recipe: You can coat the sardines beforehand. They will hold for up to 2 to 3 days in the fridge or freeze for up to 3 months. The same goes for the tomato sauce. It will hold for up to 3 to 4 days in the fridge and freeze for up to 3 months.
Key Ingredients & Cookware I used in this Recipe:
MY COOKWARE
MY CHEF´S KNIFE
EXTRA VIRGIN SPANISH OLIVE OIL (10% OFF Your Order with Coupon Code ONAFORK)
SPANISH CANNED SARDINES (10% OFF Your Order with Coupon Code ONAFORK)
If you´re not already subscribed to my youtube channel, become a subscriber and click on the bell icon to be notified everytime I release a new video.
Support Spain on a Fork. Get your Spain on a Fork Apron and other awesome Merchandise here.
Your SUPPORT Helps Spain on a Fork Keep Going
Watch the Video Below on How to Make CRISPY Sardines with Tomato Sauce
CRISPY Sardines with Tomato Sauce
Ingredients
-
1/4
cup
extra virgin olive oil
60 ml -
2
cans
small sardines in olive oil
4 oz / 120 grams each -
1/2
cup
all purpose flour
60 grams -
1
large
egg -
1
tbsp
water
15 ml -
1
cup
plain bread crumbs
120 grams -
1
tsp
garlic powder
3 grams -
1
tsp
dried parsley
1 gram - salt & pepper
FOR THE TOMATO SAUCE
-
2
tbsp
extra virgin olive oil
30 ml -
3
cloves
garlic (roughly chopped) -
1
tsp
sweet smoked Spanish paprika
2.50 grams -
1
can
Tomato Sauce (past)
15 oz / 425 grams -
1
tsp
dried parsley
1 gram - salt & pepper
EXTRAS
- lemon wedges & chopped parsley for garnish
Instructions
-
To make the tomato sauce, heat a saucepan with a medium heat and add in the olive oil, after a couple of minutes add in the chopped garlic, mix continuously, after 30 seconds add in the paprika, quickly mix together, then add in the canned tomato sauce, parsley, and season with salt & pepper, mix together, then lower to a low heat and simmer
-
In the meantime, gently drain the cans of sardines into a fine sieve with a bowl underneath, making sure to not break the sardines apart
-
Add the flour into a shallow bowl, crack the egg into a separate shallow bowl, add in the water, and season with salt & pepper, whisk together, add the bread crumbs into a third separate shallow bowl, add in the garlic powder and parsley, mix together
-
Heat a large fry pan with a medium heat and add in the olive oil
-
While the oil is heating coat the sardines, first in the flour, then into the egg wash, and finally into the breadcrumbs, once again making sure to be gentle to not break them apart
-
Once the oil is nice and hot in the fry pan add in the sardines, all in a single layer, fry for 2 minutes per side or until golden and crispy, then transfer into a dish with paper towels
-
Grab the simmering tomato sauce and add into a shallow bowl, place it over a serving dish, and decorate the crispy sardines around it, garnish with lemon wedges and chopped parsley, enjoy!
Nutrition Facts
CRISPY Sardines with Tomato Sauce
Amount Per Serving
Calories 513
Calories from Fat 270
% Daily Value*
Fat 30g46%
Saturated Fat 4g25%
Trans Fat 0.01g
Polyunsaturated Fat 6g
Monounsaturated Fat 18g
Cholesterol 127mg42%
Sodium 494mg21%
Potassium 659mg19%
Carbohydrates 39g13%
Fiber 4g17%
Sugar 6g7%
Protein 22g44%
Vitamin A 837iu17%
Vitamin C 8mg10%
Calcium 297mg30%
Iron 5mg28%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Disclosure: At Spain on a Fork, we offer affiliate links to help you find what you need to re-create our recipes. If you like what we do, you can support us through our chosen links. Which earn us a commission, but you still pay the same price. Learn more here.
Discover more from Spain on a Fork
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.