Sardines Rillettes Recipe.
Posted on 10th of February, 2013 by Lévana
Photo courtesy of www.recipesfull.blogspot.com
Sardines are to Mediterraneans what tuna is to most Americans. The city of Safi in Morocco has the largest sardine port n the world, and we grew up eating them, so this helps explain why I love them in every shape or form, grilled or in tajines fresh (an unfrequent treat here alas), or canned in sandwiches, in spreads, added to pasta and pizza. If I could think of a few ingredient that gets the stepchild treatment in this country, sardines would be one of them. Just the mention of the name brings a wrinkle to some noses. Mentioning I look for sardines with skin and bones gets me weary looks, as if I had said I am growing hair on my legs.
How do sardines come to be so underrated in America? Is it their fault that they look so homely, and smell so pungent? Have you tried them in a sandwich or panini with some lettuce and tomato? Try them in this recipe and let me know if they are beginning to grow on you! Please don’t recoil from the skin and bones, and whatever you do don’t discard any of it: You won’t see them in the finished dish—plus, that’s where all the flavor and nutrition are so you will enjoy them immensely.
This dish is whipped up in minutes. Talk about Gastronomie Sans Argent! I love to see the humble and neglected sardine get so brilliantly vindicated! You will love it on canapes, as a spread on apple or cucumber slices, a sandwich filling with some added lettuce leaves and tomato slices, with some watercress or other greens in a salad, or as a dip. Be sure to look for sardines in water for this dish, so the finished dish doesn’t come out too greasy. Top the canapes with tiny gherkins or capers. No added salt anywhere please, as even the sardines marked low sodium have enough seasoning.
Ingredients:
2 cans sardines in water, low sodium, undrained
1/4 cup tehina paste
Juice and zest of one lemon
2-3 tablespoons bottled hot sauce, such as Sriracha
6 scallions, sliced very thin
Instructions:
Place the sardines and their liquids in a bowl. Add all but last ingredient, and mash with a fork until smooth but still a little chunky. Stir in the scallions. keep refrigerated in a pint glass jar. Serve at room temperature.
When I was a kid, my favorite lunch was something my mom called “smashed sardines sandwich”. I loved it even though noone would sit next to me in the lunchroom. It was worth the sacrifice! Thanks for posting this recipe. Can’t wait to try it.
DEvora they sit with you when you eat canned tuna, don’t they? what’s the diff?
I can’t wait to try this! I am on a mission to convince my husband that the super sardine can be tasty :)
Yehudis: I have a better idea: Wait till your husband enjoys it in a sandwich before you spill the beans. It works for me with absolutely everyone, and they are amazed!