Stuffed Sardines

Name: Stuffed Sardines
Prep time: 35 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 55 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Algérie
Ingredients: 800 g boneless sardine fillets, net weight; 12 g peeled garlic; 20 g fresh parsley; 15 g fresh cilantro; 3 g ground cumin; 3 g sweet paprika; 30 g olive oil; 40 ml lemon juice; 4 g salt

Stuffed sardines are among the preparations from the coast. This version uses an herb, garlic, and cumin stuffing and is baked in the oven.

Ingredients

800 g boneless sardine fillets, net weight
12 g peeled garlic
20 g fresh parsley
15 g fresh cilantro
3 g ground cumin
3 g sweet paprika
30 g olive oil
40 ml lemon juice
4 g salt

Preparation

Check that the sardine fillets are boneless; remove any remaining bones with tweezers and keep the fish chilled during preparation.

Chop the herbs and garlic. Mix them with cumin, paprika, salt, lemon juice, and half of the oil.

Spread the stuffing over half of the fillets. Cover with the other fillets, flesh-to-flesh, without overflowing too much.

Preheat the oven to 200 °C. Arrange the sardines in an oiled dish with the remaining oil.

Cook for 15 to 20 minutes depending on their thickness, until the flesh is opaque and reaches 63 °C at the core. Serve immediately; times are guidelines and do not replace cooking control.