Straight from the pantry
What Can I Make with Sardines?
Sardines are small, savory, and full of flavor. Try them on toast, in pasta, or fresh from the grill.
Cooking with sardines
Sardines are small fish with a bold, salty flavor. They come canned, often in oil, water, or tomato sauce, or fresh for grilling. A can is ready to eat, so they work well on toast, in pasta, or tossed into salads.
Compared with the other fish here, sardines have the strongest taste. They are oily and rich like salmon, but saltier and more rugged. Cod, tilapia, and halibut are mild, and canned tuna is softer. Sardines like bright partners such as lemon, vinegar, and herbs.
Questions folks ask
Do I need to cook canned sardines?
No. They are already cooked, so you can eat them straight from the can.
Do sardines have bones?
Canned sardines often have small, soft bones that are edible. You can remove them if you prefer.
How do I make sardines taste milder?
Use lemon, herbs, and a bit of acid, or mix them into pasta or a spread.
Kitchen tips
- Mash with lemon juice and mustard for a quick spread.
- Serve on crusty toast with sliced tomato or onion.
- Add to pasta with garlic, chili flakes, and parsley.
- Drain oil-packed sardines lightly before using.
- Fresh sardines grill quickly, so watch them closely.