Click to zoomSardines (Frozen)
What it is
Whole sardines — small, oily, strongly flavoured fish with soft bones and dark, rich meat. Nothing subtle about them, and that is the point.
How we handle it
Frozen whole and sold by weight from the freezer, with the fish left ungutted. Thaw them in the fridge, clean them before cooking, and pat them very dry.
How to cook it
Grill them whole over high heat until the skin blisters, or pan-fry in olive oil. Salt, lemon, bread — that is the whole dish. Roasting a whole fish.
Good to know
Oily fish like these keep less well than lean white fish even frozen, so cook them within a few weeks of taking them home.