🔥🍅 Charred Sardines with Warm Tomato-Chili Oil

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🔥🍅 Charred Sardines with Warm Tomato-Chili Oil

Smoky, punchy, and vibrant — this turns sardines into a bold, flavour-driven dish with minimal effort.

Equipment

Frying pan or grill pan
Small saucepan
Knife & chopping board
Tongs
Spoon

Ingredients

6–8 fresh sardines, cleaned (or butterflied)
1 tbsp olive oil
Salt & black pepper
2 tbsp olive oil
1 small tomato, finely chopped
1 garlic clove, thinly sliced
1/2 tsp chili flakes
1 tsp red wine vinegar (or lemon juice)
Pinch of sugar

Instructions

Prep the Sardines
Pat dry and season with salt and pepper.
Make the Oil
Heat olive oil gently in a small pan.
Add garlic, chili flakes, and tomato.
Cook for 2–3 minutes until soft and fragrant.
Stir in vinegar and a pinch of sugar. Set aside warm.
Char the Sardines
Heat a pan until very hot.
Add olive oil and cook sardines for 2–3 minutes per side until skin is crispy and slightly charred
Finish
Spoon the warm tomato-chili oil over the sardines just before serving.

One comment

Charles
May 16, 2026 -
Would love to try this but have no idea where to find fresh sardines around Cape Town. Any suggested places I might try?
Or would fresh haarders fulfill this recipe?
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