Sardines in Tomato Sauce | Deliciously soft, melt in your mouth Sardines | Goan Fish Recipe

sardines

🥗Healthier: mackerel

💰Cheaper: tuna

Mackerel is rich in omega-3s while tuna is often more affordable.

tomato sauce

🥗Healthier: crushed tomatoes

💰Cheaper: canned tomatoes

Crushed tomatoes offer a fresher taste, while canned tomatoes are budget-friendly.

Gently remove the scales from one side of the sardine, then remove the scales from the other side.

Cut off the tail and stomach area along with the head. Remove all waste from inside the stomach and cut off the fins.

Wash and clean the fish. The sardines weigh around 500 g after cleaning and discarding waste.

Add 1 teaspoon of salt to the sardines, mix well, and keep aside for 15 minutes.

Cut 800 g of tomatoes into quarters, remove the stem, and discard the seeds. Cut each quarter into 3-4 pieces.

In a mixer or blender, add the tomato pieces and blend into a smooth paste, adding water only if required.

Take 2 medium-sized onions and cut them finely. Cut 2 green chilies in half and slit them.

Crush 10 medium-sized cloves of garlic and prepare the crushed garlic.

Take juice of 1 lime, 1 teaspoon of black peppercorns, 1 stick of cinnamon, 6 cloves, 1 teaspoon of sugar, and 1 teaspoon of salt.

In a cooker, add 3 tablespoons of olive oil and heat on medium heat. Once hot, add the black peppercorns, cloves, and cinnamon stick.

After around a minute, add the crushed garlic and stir everything nicely.

Add the finely cut onions and stir properly, cooking until they turn translucent while stirring frequently to prevent burning.

Add the slit green chilies and 1 teaspoon of salt, mixing everything nicely.

Add the tomato paste and stir.

Use 125 ml of water to remove any leftover tomato paste in the mixer and add it to the cooker along with the lime juice and sugar.

Bring the mixture to a boil and add the sardines, stirring gently.

Cover the cooker, put the whistle on, and let it cook for around 45 minutes.

After 45 minutes, turn off the heat and set aside to cool.

Once the cooker has cooled down, open the lid and check for salt, adding if required.

Check if the sardines and their bones have softened; if not, cook for more time as larger sardines may take longer to soften.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Dietary

Allergens