Sardines are wonderfully flavorful and nutritious little fish. Curing them with a bit of salt overnight softens their strong flavor and makes them perfect for topping salads, putting on toast or bagels and cream cheese, or serving as an easy, elegant appetizer.
Cured sardines can be kept, covered with oil, for up to a week. As you might guess from looking at it, this recipe is easy to double or triple as needed.
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Curing Time: 36 hours
Total Time: 36 hours, 30 minutes
Yield: 4 to 6 servings
Ingredients:
- 12 Pacific sardines
- 1/2 cup sea salt
Preparation:
- Use sharp knife to cut off the heads of the sardines just past where their gills are. Cut a slit down their bellies to the tail. Under running water open them up and slip out their guts. (You can ask your fishmonger to do this, but if you're new to cleaning fish, sardines are an easy first attempt!)
- Rinse the fish clean and pat them dry. Place them in a baking pan or similar container and sprinkle them on both sides with the salt. Cover the pan very well with plastic wrap (a few layers is in order) and tuck the pan in the fridge for about 2 days (36 - 48 hours).
- Remove the sardines from the pan and rinse them clean of salt. Peel off their skin, if you like (it's easy to do now), and serve or cover them completely with oil and store them in the fridge for up to a week.
