Grilled sardines with lemon, garlic and olive oil — a Mediterranean recipe

Grilled sardines are one of the best-loved dishes of the Mediterranean coast: fresh fish, a strong fire, lemon and olive oil. The recipe is simple, inexpensive and ready in a few minutes — ideal for a light summer dinner.

Ingredients (for 4 people):

• 1 kg fresh sardines, well cleaned
• 60 ml extra virgin olive oil
• 3 garlic cloves, finely crushed
• Juice of 1 lemon + lemon slices for serving
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• Fresh parsley, chopped
• Optional: 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

Preparation steps:

1. Wash the sardines in cold water and dry them well with kitchen paper. Remove any remaining scales.
2. Place them in a shallow dish and coat them with olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, salt, pepper and oregano. Leave them to marinate for 15 minutes in the refrigerator.
3. Heat the grill (or a grill pan) well and grease it lightly with oil so they do not stick.
4. Grill the sardines for 2–3 minutes on each side, until they take on a golden colour and a crispy crust.
5. Remove them from the heat, sprinkle with fresh parsley and serve immediately with lemon slices and toasted bread.

Preparation time: 10 minutes (+ 15 minutes marinating) | Cooking time: 6–8 minutes | Servings: 4

Tip: sardines cook very quickly — do not leave them unattended, because they dry out easily. Choosing fresh fish is half the success: clear eyes and a fresh sea smell.

Photo: E4024 / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)