Sardines With Grilled Bread And Tomato Food

POP'S TOMATO-BRAISED SARDINES

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in an oven-safe skillet over medium heat until warm. Add garlic powder and paprika; cook until you can smell the spices, about 1 minute. Add onion and cook until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Mix in tomato paste and cook for 1 to 2 minutes longer. Add cherry tomatoes and mix until well combined. Cover the pan and cook until tomatoes begin to release their liquid, about 5 minutes.
• While tomatoes are cooking, combine remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil with 1/2 of the lime juice. Add sardines and gently toss to coat with lime marinade.
• Set an oven rack about 6 inches from the heat source and preheat the oven's broiler.
• Remove the lid from the skillet. Pour cooking wine in with onion and tomatoes; stir well. Add water and fish sauce; bring to a boil. Lower heat and simmer until liquid begins to reduce, about 5 minutes.
• Remove sardines from the marinade and place on top of tomato sauce. Discard remaining marinade.
• Place under the preheated broiler until sardines are well cooked and some of the tomatoes are charred, 4 to 5 minutes.
• Pour remaining lime juice over the sardines and serve.

GRILLED SARDINES

Steps:

• Prepare a hot grill, making sure the grill is oiled. Rinse the sardines, and dry with paper towels. Toss with the olive oil, and season with salt and pepper.
• When the grill is ready, toss the rosemary sprigs directly on the fire. Wait for the flames to die down, then place the sardines directly over the heat, in batches if necessary. Grill for a minute or two on each side, depending on the size. Transfer from the grill to a platter using tongs or a wide metal spatula, and serve with lemon wedges.

SARDINES WITH SUN-DRIED TOMATO AND CAPERS

Steps:

• Place the sardines on a small plate. Squeeze the lemon half over the sardines; season with salt, black pepper, cayenne pepper, oregano, thyme, and crushed red pepper flakes. Scatter the garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, and capers over the mixture.

SARDINE TOASTS WITH TOMATO AND SWEET ONION

Steps:

• Toast the bread under a broiler (on both sides) or in the toaster.
• While the toast is still warm, immediately rub it (aggressively!) with the cut side of the garlic clove, then spread toast generously with butter. Top butter with tomato slices and lightly salt them.
• Top tomatoes with sardines and then onion slices. Drizzle with olive oil and lemon juice, then season with more salt and pepper. Garnish with basil if you like and serve immediately.