20 Gourmet Recipes for Canned Sardines: Tasty and Creative Meals (2024)

FAQs

How do you jazz up canned sardines? ›

Sardines, very oily little fish, really love a lot of acid. It is hard to beat fresh lemon juice squeezed over them, but a vinegar — white wine, rice wine or white distilled — is also good. To give you a sense of how much to use, I often douse them in my choice of acid, almost as if I were treating them like escabeche.

You can toss them on straight from the can, fry them up, or grill them. Either way, sardines make a fun pizza topping. Sardines might not be the first type of seafood that comes to mind when you think about fish tacos, but these small, canned fish work surprisingly well in a tortilla.

Is it safe to eat sardines every day? Eating fish like sardines is an important part of a healthy diet, but as with any food, moderation is key. The FDA recommends eating two to three servings of sardines per week.

Instead of using cracked black pepper, I recommend turning to a Hot Smoked Paprika or Cayenne Pepper to season oily fish like sardines. This recipe also uses spicy breadcrumbs and a cayenne-spiked mayonnaise to introduce a bit more heat and texture into a quick and absolutely delicious mid-week meal.

Rinse off excess salt.

If you can't find a brand that has a “No Salt Added” version, look for sardines that are packed in spring water. Then, rinsing the sardines may help to reduce some of the salt content. Just empty the can into a colander and rinse with cold water, shaking it and turning the sardines as you rinse.

Sardines are rich in essential nutrients, low in calories, and recommended as part of a healthy diet. Adding sardines to a balanced diet can help improve blood vessel function, ease inflammation, and more.

Many cultures revere the humble sardine, especially when pulled sparkling fresh from the sea. In Sicily, Italians love to roll up sardines stuffed with breadcrumbs, garlic, herbs and a little tangy hard cheese, then bake them or throw them on a hot barbecue.

Canned sardines can be eaten straight out of the can. My favorite is sardines in mustard on saltine crackers. Sardines in cans can be eaten straight from the can. It's a good idea to drain the liquid that comes with them.

And as with all things culinary, the French really do them right. Whether they be grilled then bathed in extra-virgin olive oil before being tinned, or combined with a bit of gentle pepper, or layered with sliced lemon, or just simply put in the tin, they're delicious.

Is it OK to eat canned sardines every day? ›

Is it healthy to eat canned sardines every day? Yes, both Shea Rawn and Manaker suggest you can eat canned sardines daily, but there are a few things to consider if you do. Manaker notes that recommended seafood intake is 8 to 12 ounces per week (depending on your age and individual factors).

Besides saltines, rectangular Club Crackers are another go-to. Pretty much all savory crackers are delicious with sardines, so experiment with your favorite crispbreads or flatbreads.

Canned Sardines' Health Risks

While dietary cholesterol doesn't affect blood cholesterol levels as significantly as we once thought, it's still best to limit high-cholesterol foods and stick to eating sardines about twice a week rather than every day.

Sardines offer more vitamin E per serving than tuna, and they also contain more calcium. Vitamin E plays a role in healthy blood circulation by promoting new red blood cell development, and its antioxidant function combats tissue damage.

The 3-day sardine challenge for weight loss is exactly what you think: Eat only sardines in oil for 72 hours. The clock starts when you eat your first bite of sardines. “Eat as many as you like, whenever you like. There are no limits and no hunger,” Dr. Box says.

Canned sardines come packed in water, oil, tomato juice, and other liquids in a tin can. You can eat them right out of the can, top them with onions or peppers, or add condiments such as mustard, mayo, or hot sauce. Usually, the heads have been removed, but you'll be eating the skin and bones.

Simply grab a fork and eat them straight out of the can for a healthy, protein-packed snack. You could add a drizzle of lemon juice, hot sauce, or balsamic vinaigrette on top if you want.

What's never debated across the peninsula is how you eat canned fish: on some nice warm Portuguese bread, on top of a salad or for the really good ones, right out of the can. My favorites mirrored the Portuguese. Tuna, sardine and cavala fillets in olive oil are fantastic, regardless of the brand.