Charred Portuguese Sardines with Lemon
Whole fresh sardines kissed over high heat until skin chars and flesh is silky, finished with coarse salt and bright lemon. Pure, smoky, elegant in under 15 minutes.
- Total time
- 12 min
- Servings
- 2
- Calories
- 286
- Protein
- 34g
Ingredients
- 8 fish fresh whole sardines, gutted and cleaned
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- ½ tsp coarse sea salt
- 1 whole lemon
- ¼ tsp black pepper
Instructions
- 1
Heat a grill pan or cast iron skillet over medium-high heat until it smokes lightly, about 3 minutes.
- 2
Pat sardines dry. Brush lightly with olive oil and season inside and out with coarse salt and black pepper.
- 3
Lay sardines on the hot pan without moving them. Cook 3 minutes until skin chars and lifts easily.
- 4
Flip gently and cook another 2 minutes until the second side is golden and flesh feels firm when pressed.
- 5
Transfer to a serving plate. Cut lemon into wedges and squeeze over the sardines before serving.
Tools you’ll need
- grill pan or 12-inch cast iron skillet
- paper towels
- tongs or fish spatula
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