Fried Sardines Food

FRIED SARDINES WITH SPICY DIPPING SAUCE AND FRIED HERBS

Steps:

• For the sauce: In a food processor, combine the sour cream, yogurt, chiles, honey, parsley, salt, lime juice and black pepper, and process until blended and mostly smooth. Taste and season with more salt and pepper if needed. Set aside in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
• For the sardines: Rinse the sardines and pat dry. Place the flour in a bowl and season it with salt and pepper. In a small bowl, beat the eggs with 1 tablespoon water. Place the breadcrumbs in another bowl. Add 2 to 3 sardines to the flour and toss until lightly coated. Shake off the excess flour. Dip the sardines in the egg mixture, then in the breadcrumbs to coat. Place the breaded sardines on a wire rack. Repeat this process for the remaining sardines.
• Heat 1/2 cup of the oil in a heavy-bottomed frying pan or cast-iron skillet over medium heat. In batches, fry the sardines in one layer, until golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Flip and fry on the other side until cooked through, about 3 minutes. Place the fried sardines on paper towels and season with salt. Repeat for the remaining sardines, adding more oil to the pan if needed.
• Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons oil in a small skillet over medium heat. Fry the capers and parsley until crisped, about 1 minute.
• Plate the sardines and top with some of the chile sauce and fried capers and parsley. Serve with the remaining chile sauce on the side and some lemon wedges.

PAN-FRIED SARDINES

Steps:

• Heat oil in a high-sided medium skillet over medium heat. (Test temperature by adding a little cornmeal; the oil should bubble immediately.) Toss sardines in cornmeal until coated, shaking off excess.
• Fry until golden brown and crisp, about 2 minutes per side. Transfer to a paper-towel-lined plate. Season with salt and serve with lemon.

PAN-FRIED SARDINES

Steps:

• Clean the sardines so there are no scales left on the outside. Very carefully, with your thumbs, take out all of the inner bones, leaving the tails on. Marinate the sardines in the cider vinegar in a large baking dish for approximately 5 minutes.
• In a large cast-iron pan, heat 1 inch olive oil over medium-high heat. Once the olive oil is nice and hot, toss the sardines in the breadcrumbs, then place in the oil immediately. Fry, in batches as needed, until golden brown, about 3 minutes on each side.
• Transfer the sardines to a paper towel-lined sheet tray. Season with salt and serve immediately.

MARINATED FRIED SARDINES (SARDINAS FRITAS EN ADOBO)

Steps:

• Butterfly the sardines, leaving them joining at the back and pulling out the bone with your fingers. In a shallow bowl large enough to hold the sardines, combine the water, vinegar, garlic, oregano, bay leaves, salt, and pepper. Place the sardines skin side up in this mixture and marinate for several hours, refrigerated. Drain the sardines well on paper towels and fold them back together. Dust with flour. Heat the oil at least 1/2-inch deep to about 380 degrees F. Or, better, use a deep-fryer. Coat the sardines with the beaten egg and place directly in the hot oil. Fry until golden, drain, and serve.
• Variation: Sardines are also delicious without a marinade. Simply coat with flour (not necessary to remove bones) and fry, or eliminate the flour and grill them. Sprinkle with coarse salt.

BEER BATTER-FRIED SARDINES AND LIME

Steps:

• * In a bowl whisk beer and salt into flour until smooth. Drain sardines and pat dry. Cut lime into 8 wedges.
• * In a 3 quart saucepan heat oil over moderately high heat until a deep-fat thermometer registers 375°F Working in batches of about 8 and holding sardines at head end to avoid breaking, dredge fish in batter to coat completely, dragging lightly against side of bowl to remove excess, and fry, stirring, until golden, 2 to 3 minutes. With a slotted spoon transfer sardines as fried to paper towels to drain.
• * Fry lime wedges in oil until they begin to turn golden, about 30 seconds, and transfer to paper towels to drain. Serve sardines with lime.
• * Yield: 2 servings.