We have been enjoying fresh local sardines for a few months now; the run is remarkable both for how large the fish are and how cheap they are (never topping $4 a pound thus far). Typically I gut 'em, butterfly them, put on a little olive oil and lemon juice, and if I'm feeling saucy, sprinkle them with a little fresh herb of some sort in the savory, provençal variety. For the kids I usually serve them up with some home made rosemary focaccia; the cooked sardines can go right on top of a piece, or the fishy sauce can be soaked up with a piece, or both. In any event it makes for a consistent fauxmediterranean vibe.
Then again, we've been eating the fresh sardines so much this year even I have been getting a little bored with this formula, so tonight, I went a little nutso and cooked up the sardines with a little soy sauce, dabbled with dark sesame oil, and spotted with some sesame seeds. And served them with naan (a commercial pre-bake from Whole Foods, heated up in the oven with some olive oil on top). And they made, well, a kind of dish taco that was really, really good, as well as easy to eat.
Herein recorded, and recommended for repeat.
Sounds yummy. You know, I don't think it's ever occurred to me that sardines could be eaten "fresh." Maybe someday I'll be in the right place at the right time and get to try them fresh.
Posted by: Marie | March 27, 2011 at 11:50