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Perfect Portuguese Grilled Sardines

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A simple and flavorful recipe for perfectly grilled Portuguese sardines with a smoky char, bright lemon, and olive oil drizzle. Ready in under 30 minutes, it’s perfect for summer nights and crowd-pleasing meals.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 8 medium-sized fresh whole sardines, cleaned and gutted
  • 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • Juice of 2 large fresh lemons, plus wedges for serving
  • 1 teaspoon coarse sea salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • Optional: fresh parsley or oregano sprigs for garnish

Instructions

  1. Rinse the sardines under cold water and pat them thoroughly dry with paper towels.
  2. In a large bowl, gently toss the sardines with the extra virgin olive oil, coarse sea salt, and freshly ground black pepper. Let them rest at room temperature for 10 minutes.
  3. Preheat your grill or grill pan to around 400°F (200°C). If using charcoal, wait until coals are glowing red with a light ash coating.
  4. Place the sardines on the grill, skin side down first. Cook for 3-4 minutes without moving them to form a perfect char.
  5. Flip carefully with tongs or a fish spatula and grill the other side for another 2-3 minutes until the flesh is opaque and flaky but still juicy.
  6. Remove from the grill and transfer to a serving platter. Drizzle immediately with fresh lemon juice and a little more olive oil.
  7. Garnish with chopped parsley or oregano if desired and serve with lemon wedges.

Notes

Use fresh sardines for best flavor; if using frozen, thaw overnight in the fridge and pat dry. Preheat grill well and oil grates lightly to prevent sticking. Avoid flipping sardines too often to keep skin intact. Serve immediately for best texture and flavor. Leftovers can be refrigerated up to 2 days and reheated briefly in a hot skillet or broiler.

Nutrition

Keywords: Portuguese grilled sardines, grilled sardines recipe, seafood, summer recipe, easy grilled fish, Mediterranean seafood

Find it online: https://perkypan.com/perfect-portuguese-grilled-sardines-recipe-5-easy-steps-for-juicy-flavor/