Sardine Recipes: 8 Easy Tinned Sardine Ideas
Tinned sardines make fast, flavourful meals with very little preparation. They work especially well with bread, potatoes, tomatoes, pasta, rice, eggs, lemon and herbs.
If you want the most versatile starting point, browse our Portuguese sardines collection for olive oil, tomato, spicy, lemon and gourmet varieties.
1. Sardines on toast with lemon
Toast good bread, add sardines and finish with lemon juice, black pepper and parsley. Rub the bread with garlic first for extra flavour.
2. Portuguese-style sardines with potatoes
Serve sardines with boiled potatoes, sliced onion, parsley, tomatoes and a spoonful of the olive oil from the tin.
3. Sardine pasta with garlic and chilli
Warm garlic in olive oil, add sardines and chilli flakes, then toss with cooked pasta. Finish with parsley and lemon zest.
4. Tomato, olive and sardine salad
Combine ripe tomatoes, cucumber, red onion and olives. Add sardines on top and use a little of the tin oil in the dressing.
5. Sardine rice bowl
Add sardines to warm rice with tomatoes, herbs, lemon and pickled vegetables. This is an easy pantry lunch that needs almost no cooking.
6. Sardine and egg toast
Top toast with sliced boiled egg and sardines. Add mustard, parsley and black pepper for a simple high-protein meal.
7. Sardine sandwich
Mash sardines lightly with lemon juice and a little mustard. Add lettuce, tomato or pickled onion and serve in crusty bread.
8. Portuguese-style petiscos board
Open two or three different sardine tins and serve them with bread, olives, cheese, pickles and olive oil. Using several flavours turns a simple meal into an easy tasting experience.
Which sardines are best for recipes?
Sardines in olive oil are the easiest all-round choice. Tomato sauce works especially well with rice and pasta, while spicy or piri-piri sardines add heat without extra seasoning. Lemon versions are excellent in salads and on toast.
Can you cook canned sardines?
Yes, but they are already cooked. Add them near the end of cooking so they warm through without breaking apart too much.
Can you use the oil from the tin?
Yes. Use good-quality olive oil from the tin in dressings, pasta, potatoes or on bread. It carries flavour from the sardines and can replace part of the oil you would otherwise add.
Read next: see how to eat sardines or learn whether sardines are good for you.
