How to Barbecue Sardines

Sardines make a nutritious meal that you can prepare quickly on a barbecue. These fish are considered a delicacy in many parts of the world, including Spain. Barbecuing sardines can change your idea about the fish that usually comes in a can with a roll-back top.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• 8 fresh sardines
• Coarse salt and pepper
• 1 garlic clove
• Rosemary
• Olive oil

1. Hold the sardines under cold running water while you rub the skin with your thumbs and remove the scales. Gut your sardines by removing the heads and twisting the backbones out.
2. Coat the insides of the sardines with salt and pepper. Use enough to suit your particular taste.
3. Place one to two very thin slices of garlic into each sardine. Add a sprig of rosemary to each fish.
4. Rub olive oil along the wires of a fish basket. Place the sardines in the basket and put it on the barbecue over high heat. Grill each side of the sardines for 2 to 3 minutes. Serve your barbecued sardines with lemon wedges, and encourage your guests to eat the sardines with their fingers. You can provide bowls of water with more lemon so your guests can wash their fingers to remove the fish smell.

Tips & Warnings

• It isn't necessary to remove the sardine heads before you barbecue. You can gut them after cooking for a more flavorful result. Scrape the insides out before you serve them.
• You don't have to remove the bones from the sardines. They're so small that they disintegrate as they cook.