This is an easy BBQ recipe for sardines with fennel salsa. The sardines are especially delicious when cooked so simply and served with the bright citrus and fennel salsa. If the weather lets you down the recipe will work just as well indoors and under the grill.

Sardines Are A Recommended Sustainable Fish

Shoals of sardines are quite plentiful they are found in the waters around the UK . They are a fast growing  fish which means that stocks recover quickly which along with fishing management makes them a good sustainable choice. In the summer months they are often caught in the waters between Cornwall and Brittany.

Quantities below will feed four people, allow about ten minutes for preparation and a further ten for the cooking.

Ingredients For Sardines With Fennel Salsa

8 fresh sardines from Walter Purkis & Sons
1 red onion
1 bulb of fennel
1 orange
small bunch flat leaf parsley
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
salt and freshly ground pepper
olive oil for cooking the fish

Cooking Method For For Sardines With Fennel Salsa

If use a BBQ make sure you light the coals early so they are hot when you are ready to cook.

The sardines need to be cleaned before cooking – just ask and we can do this for you in the shop.

First finely chop the red onion and the bulb of fennel you should have equal portions of each. Next peel and segment the orange. Chop the fruit segments into smaller pieces reserving any juice. The aim is to remove as much of the white pith as possible – which gives you a better presentation on your plate

Chop the herbs finely. Then combine them with the onion, fennel, orange chunks, orange juice, parsley and the olive oil, season well with plenty of salt and pepper.

Dry the fish well to remove any moisture – this will help prevent any sticking to the cooking surface. Slash the sardines a few times on each side, brush with olive oil and Grill/BBQ for a few minutes on each side.

Serve right away with the fennel salsa poured over the top.

This Sardines With Fennel Salsa recipe come from the Fish is the Dish website where you can find this and lots of other fishy recipes.