Description
Crispy Spanish Fried Sardines are a delightful tapas with a golden crispy shell and tender, briny flesh, showcasing a perfect balance of crunch and flavor.
Ingredients
- Fresh sardines, cleaned: 600 g (about 1.3 lb), 12–16 small sardines
- All-purpose flour: 120 g (1 cup)
- Fine cornmeal (optional): 60 g (½ cup)
- Salt: 1½ tsp Diamond Crystal kosher salt (or 1 tsp Morton’s)
- Freshly ground black pepper: ½ tsp
- Garlic powder: ¼ tsp
- Lemon: 1 large, cut into wedges
- Fresh parsley: 15 g (¼ cup packed), chopped
- Neutral oil for frying: 500 ml (2 cups)
- Optional: smoked paprika ½ tsp
Instructions
- Clean and dry the sardines by rinsing under cold water and patting them completely dry.
- Season the fish with salt and pepper and let sit for 5 minutes.
- Prepare the dredge by combining flour, cornmeal, garlic powder, and smoked paprika in a shallow dish; dredge the sardines lightly.
- Heat oil in a skillet to 180°C (350°F), maintaining the temperature between 175–185°C (350–365°F).
- Fry the sardines in batches until golden brown, about 2–3 minutes per side.
- Transfer to a wire rack, sprinkle with parsley, and serve with lemon wedges.
Notes
Make-ahead: Clean and season sardines up to 2 hours ahead. Store covered in the refrigerator. Dredge just before frying.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Spanish
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 0g
- Sodium: 520mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 17g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 12g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 24g
- Cholesterol: 95mg