Portuguese grilled sardine (Sardinhas) is mainly enjoyed during the summer, when sardines are in season, making the recipe a perfect dinner for you and your family. Next time if you want to organize a barbeque at your home, try to impress your guests with some grilled sardines.
You wonโt need much to make this dish shine, just the sardines and some basic seasoning to enhance the natural flavors of the fish.
Served with a fresh salad, some baked potatoes, or some bread, you will have a delicious and nutritious meal on your plate, filled with protein, healthy fats, Omega 3, and all those goodies. Let me show you how to easily grill sardines at home.
Sardinhas – An Icon In Mediterranean Cuisine
Sardinhas is a popular dish in Mediterranean countries made by grilling sardines with simple ingredients. The dish is especially in coastal regions like Portugal and Spain, where sardines are considered iconic.
There is even a festival to eat sardines (โsardinhasโ) in Portugal, called Festa de Sรฃo Joรฃo do Porto, on June 23rd.
Very often enjoyed in restaurants by the beach, sardines are associated with the summertime. In Portugal, for example, if you live close to the ocean, you will surely smell the grilled sardines during the summer nights.
Usually, the grilled sardines are usually served as the main meal, with a fresh salad or baked potatoes. There is also a type of small sardines that can be eaten with the bones, which can be enjoyed simply on a slice of bread and some lemon on top.
What Sadines To Use For Grilling?
The Atlantic sardine (sardina pilchardus) and the Pacific sardine (sardinops sagax) are popular in the States. However, if youโre in a hurry, any sardine family variety can also work wonders.
The Atlantic sardine, commonly used in Portugal and Spain, is a cheap and healthy source of protein. For an enhanced taste and aroma, it is recommended to catch Atlantic sardines from June to early October.
On the other hand, the Pacific sardine stands out with its blue-green back, white flanks, and one to three sets of dark spots. The smaller Pacific sardines offer a delicate flavor, while the larger ones provide a fuller, oilier taste reminiscent of anchovies but milder.
Known for its creamy texture and robust flavor, the Pacific sardine adds a delightful touch to any culinary creation.
Why Consuming Sardines Benefit You?
Consuming sardines offers several benefits for your health. For example, sardines are rich in potassium, zinc, and magnesium, essential minerals supporting various bodily functions. Additionally, the potassium content in sardines promotes healthy blood pressure levels.
Sardines also contain niacin and zinc that can help improve lipid and lipoprotein levels in the body. These fish are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which have anti-inflammatory properties and are beneficial for heart health.
Also, sardines have higher iron levels than other fish, making them a good choice for individuals who need to increase their iron intake. Donโt forget sardines offer superior nutritional content to tuna, as they contain more calcium and vitamin E.
What Tools Are Needed To Nail Your Portuguese Sardinhas?
To make Portuguese grilled sardines, you need to lay your hands on simple utensils like a griller alongside simple tools like a spatula, knife, cutting board, and container.
What Ingredients Are Needed For Portuguese-style Grilled Sardines?
The main ingredients necessary for sardinhas include sardines with simple seasonings of olive oil, parsley, lemon, and garlic. Of course, sardines are indispensable from the mix, but you may want to know what else to prepare before starting the fire for grilling.
How To Make The Perfect Portuguese Grilled Sardines?
Making Portuguese grilled sardines requires simple steps of preparing the marinade, marinating the fish, and grilling the sardines. The dish is simple to make, so you donโt have to worry about using any complicated chef-rated skills.
Step 1: Prepare the Marinade
You should start by preparing the marinade for the sardines. Add olive oil, chopped fresh parsley, minced garlic, lemon juice, salt, and pepper to the small container. Mix well.
Step 2: Marinade the Sardines
Place the sardines on a plate and pour the marinade on top. Make sure to spread the marinade concoction evenly over the surface of the sardines. Let them sit for 2-3 minutes.
Step 3: Grill the Sardines
Fire up your griller, whether itโs electric or charcoal. Then, place the sardines on a hot griller and let the heat penetrate the fish for about 2-3 minutes on each side.
Ideally, you should aim for a nice and crispy texture on the outside and still moist on the inside.
What Are Some Tips And Serving Suggestions For Portuguese Grilled Sardines?
When your sardines are done, itโs time to serve them up with some tips and serving suggestions to help you make your grilled sardines better than ever. Donโt worry; they are easy to follow.
How To Make Portuguese Grilled Sardines Easier and More Delicious?
To enhance Portuguese grilled sardines flavors, you can try these 5 tips to alter the sardines to your will. Also, you can learn a few tricks to handle frozen sardines.
What Should I Serve With The Grilled Sardines?
The sardines have such a unique flavor that you really want to enjoy them simply, but they go well with a fresh salad, baked potatoes, or simply some bread.
In addition, you may want some specific suggestions like lemon salsa, roasted veggies, tomatoes with toast, or salsa spaghetti.
How Can You Store Sardinhas?
You can freeze the sardines when raw, but once they are grilled, the best is to enjoy them within a day. With that said, you can still reserve your already-cooked sardines.
Are You Up For Having Portuguese Grilled Sardines?
You wonโt need any special ingredients to make Portuguese grilled sardines, just some fresh sardines and basic seasoning that will make the natural flavor of the oily fish shine.
You can serve the grilled sardines with a simple salad, baked potatoes, or even fresh bread. Hope you enjoyed this recipe! I would love to hear your feedback, so please feel free to leave a comment below.
Sardinhas Recipe (Portuguese Grilled Sardines)
Equipment
- Griller
- Spatula
- Big plate
- Knife
- Cutting Board
- Small container
- Small spoon
Ingredients
- 4 medium sardines
- 0.5 lemon juice
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp chopped parsley
- 2 small garlic cloves minced
- 0.5 tsp salt
- 0.5 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Start by preparing the marinade. In a small container, add the olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, parsley, salt, and pepper, and mix.
- Pour about 1 tsp of the marinade on top of each sardine, and let it sit for about 2-3 minutes.
- Place the sardines on a hot griller and let them grill for about 2 minutes on each side or until they are nice and crunchy on the outside and moist on the inside.Serve them immediately with some fresh salad or baked potatoes.
Video
Notes
- The total time and the ingredient quantities are based on 2 servings of grilled sardines.
- If you donโt have a charcoal griller, you can use an electric one. Or if you donโt have any of these, you can make the sardines in the oven, on the grilling mode.
- Feel free to add extra herbs and spices to your marinade (dried oregano, paprika, chili flakes, etc.)
Nutrition
Liliya Balinska
Content Writer
Expertise
Content Writer, Home Cooking, Meal Planning, Recipe Development, Food Editor, Cooking-video Maker, Translator & Proofreader
Education
Universidade do Minho, Portugual
Nankai University, China
Universidade do Minho, Portugual
Escolas do Turismo de Portugal
Liliya Balinska, based in Lisbon, is a culinary content writer with an impressive educational background in Oriental and Intercultural Studies, complemented by a specialization in Culinary Arts. Her broad expertise enables her to cover a wide array of cuisines, from European classics to global dishes, captivating food lovers worldwide with her deep cultural knowledge and captivating writing style.