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overhead shot of fried canned sardines on plate.

Crispy Fried Canned Sardines

These Crispy Fried Canned Sardines are dredged in a cornmeal-based batter and then deep-fried. I love to serve them with a side of tartar sauce for dipping. You can also air-fry them but make sure to spray them with lots of oil, or else they taste a bit starchy.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American
Servings 2 people
Calories 457 kcal

Ingredients
  

For Serving

Instructions
 

  • In a shallow dish, combine the cornmeal, cornstarch, flour, salt, and black pepper. In another shallow dish, beat the egg until smooth.
  • Heat about 1 inch of oil to 350℉. Gently dredge each sardine in the egg wash and then coat it with the cornmeal mixture. Gentle lower into the hot oil and fry for 2-3 minutes on both sides until golden brown and crispy. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to dry. Serve immediately with lemon slices and tartar sauce.
  • Optional: For an extra crispy texture, you can double-fry the sardines. After the first fry, allow the sardines to cool for at least 15 minutes at room temperature or up to 24 hours in the fridge. Then reheat your oil to 400℉ and deep-fry for 1-2 minutes until crispy.

Notes

Air Fryer: If you don't want to deep-fry the sardines, you can air-fry them, but make sure you spray them with lots of oil, or else they come out a bit starchy tasting.
To air-fry: preheat your air fryer to 400℉. Place the breaded sardines in the basket with some space in between. Spray them generously with oil and air-fry for 3-4 minutes. Flip them over, spray with more oil, and fry for another 3 minutes.

Nutrition

Calories: 457kcalCarbohydrates: 33gProtein: 37gFat: 18gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 8gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0.01gCholesterol: 271mgSodium: 1003mgPotassium: 631mgFiber: 3gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 273IUCalcium: 497mgIron: 5mg
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.
Did you make this?Let me know how it was!