Grilled Sardines with Lemon and Garlic
These whole grilled sardines are bold, smoky, and ready in under 30 minutes — a Mediterranean classic that's as easy as it is impressive. A simple rub of garlic, olive oil, and lemon lets the fish shine, while fresh parsley brightens every bite.
- 4wholewhole sardines- trimmed
- 1wholelemon- halved
- 2clovegarlic- minced
- 30mlextra virgin olive oil
- 10gflat-leaf parsley- finely chopped
- flaky sea salt
- black pepper
- 1
Preheat the grill
Heat your grill or grill pan to high — you want it very hot before the fish goes on. If using a grill pan, lightly oil it to help prevent sticking.
- 2
Season the sardines
Pat the sardines dry with paper towels (this helps the skin crisp up). Drizzle with olive oil and squeeze over half the lemon, then rub the minced garlic all over the fish. Season generously with flaky salt and black pepper on both sides.
- 3
Grill the sardines
Lay the sardines on the hot grill and cook for 3–4 minutes per side without moving them — they'll release naturally when the skin is properly charred and crisp. The flesh should be opaque all the way through and flake easily at the thickest part. Rest for 1 minute off the heat.
- 4
Finish and serve
Transfer to a serving plate, scatter over the fresh parsley, and finish with a drizzle of olive oil. Serve immediately with the remaining lemon half cut into wedges for squeezing at the table.
- 400 kcal
- 30g protein
- 25g fat
- 5g carbs