Serves 4 people
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 8 minutes
Ingredients
- 12 fresh sardines (about 600g), cleaned and scaled
- 2 tbsp olive oil (about 30ml)
- 1 tsp sweet paprika (about 3g)
- 1 tsp smoked paprika (about 3g)
- 1 tsp sea salt (about 5g)
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- Lemon wedges, to serve
For the Paprika Mayonnaise
- 150g mayonnaise
- 1 tsp smoked paprika (about 3g)
- 1 tsp lemon juice (about 5ml)
- Pinch of sea salt
Method
- Prepare the mayonnaise
In a small bowl, mix mayonnaise with smoked paprika, lemon juice, and salt. Cover and chill until needed. - Season the sardines
Pat the sardines dry with kitchen paper. Rub with olive oil, sweet paprika, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. - Grill the sardines
Heat a barbecue or griddle pan to high. Cook sardines for about 3–4 minutes per side until the skin is crisp and the flesh is opaque. - Serve
Arrange sardines on a platter, drizzle with lemon juice, and serve immediately with the chilled paprika mayonnaise and lemon wedges.
Chef’s Note
For a more intense smoky flavour, grill the sardines over lumpwood charcoal and add a small handful of soaked wood chips just before cooking.