What are some quick, delicious, and budget-friendly canned sardine recipes?
- Sardines Spaghetti
- Canned Sardine Fritters
- Sardines and Flour Vermicelli Soup
- Sautéed Bitter Gourd and Sardines
Philippines and sardines obviously go well together. You just have to take a peek at a Filipino kitchen. Or check out the stalls in the supermarket. You’ll definitely be welcomed by the sight of cans of Philippine sardines stacked up neatly.
Aside from being affordable and delectable, another delightful thing about sardines is that they’re flexible and quite easy to prepare. You won’t have any problem crafting one recipe after another.
Are you thrilled to start whipping up quick, delicious, and budget-friendly canned sardines recipes?
Then, you’ve come at the right place!
Listed below are some of the recipes you might want to try out.
Sardines Spaghetti
It’s a no-brainer that Filipinos love spaghetti! In fact, there’s even the so-called Pinoy style spaghetti, one that’s marked by its hint of sweetness. This is also a general favorite among children (and adults!), and is always present in birthdays and celebrations.
But there isn’t any steadfast rule declaring that spaghetti sauce should only consist of meat—that is, it could be sardines too! How’s that for a budget-friendly meal?
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon of a healthy cooking oil of your choice (such as olive, vegetable, and palm)
- 2 cloves of garlic
- 1 medium-sized onion
- 2 cans of sardines in tomato sauce
- spaghetti pasta
Directions
- Cook the pasta according to the instructions on the packaging. Set aside.
- Heat the oil in a pan.
- Sauté the garlic and onion until cooked.
- Toss in the sardines.
- After a few minutes, put the cooked sardines over the pasta.
- Mix well, and your spaghetti is good to go!
Canned Sardines Fritters
This is more commonly as tortang sardinas. And as you might know, Filipinos love torta.
This recipe is a creative take on fritters. Besides from using ground pork or eggplants, why not use sardines?
Ingredients
- 1 canned sardines
- 2 eggs
- 1 tablespoon of all-purpose flour
- salt (to taste)
- ground black pepper (to taste)
- ¾ cup of preferred oil
Directions
- Open the canned sardines. If it has sauce, make sure to drain it first.
- Place the sardines in a bowl and mash the fish with a fork.
- Toss in the eggs, flour, salt, and pepper. Mix everything well.
- Warm oil in a skillet. Pour in the mixture using a ladle. Flatten it and fry both sides.
- Drain the fritters on paper towels to get rid of excess oil.
- Serve with your favorite dip, and you’re good to go!
Sardines and Flour Vermicelli Soup
This sounds quite fancy, but it’s basically just sautéed sardines and miswa. Definitely a fresh take on the well-loved miswa!
Tip: As with any other soup, this is best enjoyed fresh from the stove.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon of your preferred oil
- 2 cloves of garlic, peeled and minced
- 1 small onion, peeled and finely sliced
- 2 medium tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon of fish sauce
- 3 cans of sardines in tomato sauce
- 2 cups of water
- 2 ounces of miswa noodles
- salt and pepper (to taste)
Directions
- Warm oil in a pot of medium heat.
- Sauté the garlic and onion.
- After a while, toss in the tomatoes. Gently mash them with a spoon until they soften.
- Pour in the fish sauce. Stir the mixture occasionally for 1 to 2 minutes.
- Add the sardines and a bit of water. Let it boil.
- Toss in the miswa. Let it cook for around 4 minutes, until the noodles are fully soft.
- Season with salt and pepper, and that’s it!
Sautéed Bitter Gourd and Sardines
Ampalaya and sardines are definitely one of the cheapest ingredients you’ll find in the market. Plus, this dish is also extremely easy to make and is incredibly nourishing!
After all, ampalaya is packed to the brim with vitamins and minerals that your body sorely needs. It’s also rich in antioxidants. And sardines are also this and more! When these two are combined, you’re in for a healthy treat; there’s no need for you to worry about gaining the pounds you lose in the gym!
Ingredients
- 4 medium-sized ampalaya
- 1 tablespoon of your preferred oil
- 1 small onion, peeled and chopped
- 2 cloves of garlic (finely chopped)
- 1 tomato, chopped
- 1 tablespoon of fish sauce
- 2 cans of sardines (in tomato sauce)
- 1 cup of water
- a pinch of salt and pepper (to taste)
Directions
- Thinly slice the ampalaya (lengthwise). Place it in a bowl filled with cold water. Set aside. Drain the water when it’s already needed.
- Warm oil over medium heat in a skillet. Toss in the garlic and onions until cooked.
- After a while, add the tomatoes. Mash them with the back of the spoon every now and then, until fully softened.
- Pour in the fish sauce and cook for at least a minute.
- Add the sardines (with the sauce) and a bit of water.
- Let it boil. Season with salt and pepper.
- Toss in the ampalaya and gently mix the two.
- Cook until the ampalaya is tender.
Key Takeaway
Philippines and sardines complement each other exceedingly well. One look at a local kitchen or a supermarket already reveals the close relationship of these two.
It’s hardly surprising that Filipinos are exceedingly drawn towards sardines, considering how economical and delicious this fish is. More than that, it’s also relatively fuss-free to prepare—you’re guaranteed to concoct dozens of delectable and budget-friendly recipes in no time.
