French cuisine · Fish & Seafood

Grilled Sardines Provençal-Style

Fresh sardines grilled over high heat and doused hot with garlic, olive oil and lemon.

Ingredients · for 4 servings

• 800 g fresh sardines, cleaned and ready to cook
• 6 garlic cloves
• 1 bunch flat-leaf parsley
• 2 lemons
• 6 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• coarse sea salt
• Salt, pepper

Instructions

1. Rinse the sardines inside and out in cold water, pat them very thoroughly dry, and rub them all over with 2 tbsp olive oil so they don't stick to the grate.
2. Finely chop the garlic, chop the parsley, and whisk both with the remaining olive oil, the juice of one lemon, thyme and pepper into a marinade.
3. Bring the charcoal grill to strong, even heat and preheat the grate well until a drop of water evaporates instantly.
4. Salt the sardines only right before grilling and grill for 3–4 min. per side without moving them, until the skin blisters and shows crisp dark char marks.
5. Lay the hot fish out on a platter right away and generously pour the garlic-herb marinade over them so they soak up the aroma.
6. Let rest for 5 min., sprinkle with coarse sea salt, and serve with wedges of the second lemon and white bread.