Thai Spiced Grilled Sardines

Spice At Home

Posted by Bloomsbury

About

Sardines are a good fish for grilling or barbecuing, and I especially like the Thai flavours here. The dip is an excellent addition, too, and would work just as well with satays or other poultry skewers.

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You Will Need (19 things)

  • 16 –20 whole Sardines , gutted and cleaned, skin slashed
  • 1 tbsp Vegetable or Olive Oil
  • For the barbecue rub

  • 2 tsp Ground Garlic
  • 1 ½ tsp Turmeric
  • 1 tsp dried Chilli (crushed), ¾ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • ¼ tsp Freshly Ground Black Pepper
  • 1 tsp Nigella Seeds
  • 2 tsp Salt
  • 1 tbsp Cornflour
  • For the sauce

  • 4 tbsp Vegetable or Olive Oil
  • 2 tbsp Coconut Milk or butter
  • 2 Fresh red Chillies , deseeded and finely chopped, or ½ teaspoon dried crushed chilli or cayenne pepper
  • A bunch of Coriander , chopped
  • 3 tbsp Fish Sauce
  • Lime Juice from 4 limes
  • 4 Garlic Cloves , finely chopped
  • 2 tsp Brown Sugar

Steps (6 steps, 35 minutes)

  1. 1

    Lightly oil a grill rack with a little cooking oil to prevent the fish sticking.

  2. 2

    To make the barbecue rub, simply stir all the rub ingredients together in a small bowl.

  3. 3

    Place prepared sardines on a tray or in a long casserole dish large enough for them to lie flat. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon of the vegetable oil and rub it evenly over the fish. Sprinkle the barbecue rub over the entire surface of the fish. Gently rub it along each fish, so they appear yellowy gold. Set aside to marinate until your barbecue/grill is hot.

  4. 4

    Grill the fish for about 5–6 minutes on each side until cooked and the skin crisp.

  5. 5

    To make the sauce, simply place all the sauce ingredients in a small pan. Warm over a medium heat for 2–3 minutes to bring out the flavours, taking care not to let the mixture boil. The sauce may separate, but that’s OK. Adjust consistency, adding more fish sauce if not salty enough, or another squeeze of lime juice if too salty for your taste. Add a little more sugar if too sour.

  6. 6

    To serve, spoon the sauce over the grilled fish. The sauce is very nice with rice too.