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A hand holding a toast of sardines with all the toppings like lemon, feta onions, tomatoes, chilli flakes and more close up showing the texture and layering of the toast

Sardines On Toast

Sardines on Toast is a 5 minute recipe that tastes like the Mediterranean on your plate. One of the tastiest ways to enjoy canned sardines, with a boost of omega-3. This humble recipe will blow your mind on how TASTY it is, even if you're not a sardine lover. TRUST us on this one-- make it your comeback to giving sardines a chance.
Course brunch, dinner, light, lunch, Snack, Summer
Cuisine Mediterranean
Keyword canned sardine recipe, canned sardines, how to eat sardines, sardine recipes, Sardines, sardines on toast
Prep Time 5 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 189 kcal
Author Mahy

Ingredients

Bread

  • 4 sourdough toasts thick and large

Sardines

  • 2 cans sardines Quality sardines

Toppings

  • 1 red onion sliced
  • 1 Tomato thinly sliced
  • 2 tablespoon feta cheese crumbles
  • 1 slice of lemon cut finely into dice, or use preserved lemon
  • 2 tabelspoons dill minced and add in some fresh parsley minced as well
  • 1 Tablespoon hot sauce our homemade family recipe is BEST
  • 2-3 Tablespoons tahini sauce our homemade is best
  • 1 teaspoon olive oil
  • 1 lemon wedges squeezed at the end

Instructions

  1. Toast your bread in a toaster until golden to your taste.
    A hand holding toasted crunchy sourdough toasted slices to make sardines on toast
  2. You can either cut the toast in half or keep it large if you prefer. This depends on the size of your toast initially.
  3. Layer the Sardines on toast by starting off with the tomatoes and onion slices.
    tomato slices and onion slices are layered over the tasted bread
  4. You can optionally rub a clove of garlic over the bread before layering.
  5. Now you're going to add the sardines from the tin right over the onions.
    4 pieces of baby sardines from the can are placed over the tomatoes and onions on the toast to layer the toast recipe
  6. While some people love to smash the sardines slightly onto the bread, we love keeping them whole.
  7. Some feta crumbles, lemon pieces (or preserved lemons) go on top along with some dill, parsley and chili flakes.
    Feta cheese, herbs, hot sauce dollops, preserved lemons or regular lemon, dill are added over the sardines
  8. Add dollops of my grandpa's homemade and VIRAL Hot Pepper Sauce.
  9. Drizzle as little or as much as you like of our famous Tahini Sauce. In case you're not familiar with how fish is served on the Mediterranean, it's always served with Tahini sauce! Which we acknowledge may sound unfamiliar since tahini is made popular here as a salad dressing only. But authentically it's way more than that!
    A spoon drizzling a hefty amount of tahini sauce over the sardines on toast
  10. Now season the sardines on toast with some cracked black pepper and extra dill if you like.
    A bottle drizzling some olive oil over the sardines on toast to finish the recipe
  11. Finish with a squeeze of lemon juice and a healthy drizzle of olive oil.
  12. SO GOOD!
    A hand holding a toast of sardines with all the toppings like lemon, feta onions, tomatoes, chilli flakes and more close up showing the texture and layering of the toast

Recipe Notes

Sardines On toast Recipe Tips

  1. Choose quality sardines for this recipe. They are the HERO ingredient and need to shine.
  2. Best to look for wild caught and sustainably sourced sardines.
  3. Nuri is a great sardine sourced from Portugal, but it may be hard to find.
  4. We LOVE King Oscar sardines-- they're boneless, wild caught, sustainably sourced, affordable and readily available.
  5. Use toasted, sturdy bread. This is how the toppings hold up together.
  6. Start by layering veggies first before putting the sardines directly on the bread.
  7. Cut your toppings into small bits so they don't over load the bread.
  8. Sauce it up! Repeating the note above, in case you're not familiar with how fish is served on the Mediterranean, it's always served with Tahini sauce! Which we acknowledge may sound unfamiliar since tahini is made popular here as a salad dressing only. But authentically it's way more than that!
  9. Finish with a drizzle of lemon juice and olive oil for a perfect finish.

Are sardines on toast healthy?

Yes! Sardines are loaded with omega-3 fatty acids, Vitamin D and proteins. They’re low in mercury making them one of the most nutritious fish.

What kind of sardines should I use?

Look for sardines in olive oil for richness or in water for a lighter option. You can also use sardines in tomato sauce or with chili for extra flavor.

Do I need to remove the bones or skin?

We buy the boneless sardines from King Oscar. You can however buy the regular ones and NO you don't need to remove bones at all! Sardine bones are tiny, soft, and full of calcium. The skin is also edible. But if you prefer, you can mash them to break everything down.

How do I make it less "fishy"?

Use our toppings as a guide, Tahini Sauce , finishing off with lemon juice. Choosing high-quality sardines also makes a big difference.

Can I make sardines on toast ahead of time?

Not really because the bread will become soggy. It’s best made fresh. But you can prep the sardine topping ahead and toast the bread just before serving.

Is this a breakfast, snack, or dinner?

Frankly, all of the above! It’s protein-packed enough for breakfast, satisfying enough for lunch, and perfect with a salad or soup for dinner.

What bread is best?

Sourdough, rye, baguette, or hearty whole grain breads are ideal. Anything with a firm texture and structure to hold up the toppings.

Can I use flavored sardines?

Absolutely YES! It's a personal taste, so feel free to use your favorites.

 What to Serve with Sardines on Toast

Soups, Salads, and veggies. We love it as it is, or as a side of any meal.

Variations on Sardines on Toast

Once you’ve tried this recipe, you'll soon explore more ways to enjoy sardines on toast!

  • Another Mediterranean Sardine Toast
    This involves Sardines with Greek flavors like chopped tomatoes, sliced kalamata olives (or Tapenade). Some  capers, and fresh parsley. Finish with a drizzle of good extra virgin olive oil and fresh oregano.
  • Spicy Sardine Toast
    Mash sardines with a squeeze of lemon and a teaspoon of harissa aioli or chili oil. Spread on toast and top with arugula or sliced jalapeños for an extra kick.
  • Avocado & Sardines Tartine
    Mash ripe avocado with a pinch of salt, cilantro and lemon juice. Spread on toast, then add sardines, sliced onions and a sprinkle of chili flakes. This simple toast can be loaded with tomato slices, jalapenos and any other topping.
  •  Garlic Herb Sardine Toast
    Rub warm toasted bread with a clove of garlic, top with sardines, lots of herbs and lemon salsa. Similar to a Chimichurri Recipe, the herbs lemon and olive oil salsa are perfect with sardines. We had it with our  Grilled Shrimp and it was PERFECT.
  • Creamy Sardine Spread
    Mash sardines with a little sour cream or Mayo (similar to our mixture on this Tuna Cucumber Salad). Add to that capers, onions and herbs. Add lemon zest and juice, mash and spread on toast for a rich, dip-like version. Something like our Smoked Salmon Dip but minus the cream cheese.
 
 
Nutrition Facts
Sardines On Toast
Amount Per Serving
Calories 189 Calories from Fat 126
% Daily Value*
Fat 14g22%
Saturated Fat 3g19%
Polyunsaturated Fat 5g
Monounsaturated Fat 5g
Cholesterol 96mg32%
Sodium 387mg17%
Potassium 454mg13%
Carbohydrates 7g2%
Fiber 2g8%
Sugar 3g3%
Protein 19g38%
Vitamin A 416IU8%
Vitamin C 26mg32%
Calcium 311mg31%
Iron 3mg17%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.