Description
Golden, crispy fried sardines coated in seasoned breadcrumbs, served with a vibrant and zesty herb dipping sauce—the perfect appetizer or snack for seafood lovers!
Ingredients
Units
Scale
For the Sardines:
- 12 fresh sardines, cleaned and gutted
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 1 cup breadcrumbs or cornmeal
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- Vegetable oil, for frying
For the Herb Dipping Sauce:
- 1/2 cup Greek yogurt or mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro
- 1 clove garlic
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
Instructions
-
Prepare the Sardines:
- Rinse and pat dry the cleaned sardines.
-
Set Up the Breading Station:
- Place flour in one bowl.
- Beat eggs in another bowl.
- Mix breadcrumbs, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper in a third bowl.
-
Coat the Sardines:
- Dredge each sardine in flour, then dip in beaten eggs, and coat with the breadcrumb mixture, pressing gently to adhere.
-
Fry the Sardines:
- Heat vegetable oil in a deep pan to 350°F (175°C).
- Fry sardines in batches for 2-3 minutes per side, until golden and crispy.
- Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess oil.
-
Make the Herb Dipping Sauce:
- Blend or finely chop parsley, cilantro, and garlic.
- Mix with Greek yogurt (or mayo), lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and black pepper until smooth.
-
Serve & Enjoy:
- Serve crispy sardines hot with herb dipping sauce on the side.
Notes
- For extra crunch, double-coat sardines in breadcrumbs.
- Use panko breadcrumbs for a lighter, crispier texture.
- Best enjoyed immediately while crispy!
