Sardines! (School me?)

[New_Natural_Mom]

I am interested in trying sardines. I am trying to get more fish in my diet. DS just turned 2 and he will not eat tuna. He will barely eat cod, and halibut. He *lurves* calamari (though only had once.)

I want to try sardines (will get canned from Trader Joes.) How does one eat them. I confess, I don't love the way fish tastes or smells particularly - especially strong ones. I like Tilapia, salmon - meh. I found a recipe for sardine pate that sounded good, but it called for boneless skinless. Aren't the bones and skin good to eat (but :Puke at the thought of it, which is why pate sounded like a nice start.)

Any help here? (Sorry this is so rambly.)

[ursusarctos]

Canned sardines in olive oil are on buttered toast. You can kind of break them up with a utensil and mash them onto the bread a bit so you don't just have a whole little fish sitting there Then they're less "gross I'm eating a whole fish" and more yummy salty fishy toast topping. Never heard of sardine pate.

I haven't had boneless skinless so can't compare, but my strategy is just not to look too closely You can't really taste or feel the bone and skin because they get soft when they cook.

Also, sometimes when I am craving sardines I find them delicious and other times when they are just around and I eat them I don't like them so much... so don't give up if you don't like them on the first try.

[New_Natural_Mom]

So do you just put them straight out of the can on toast, like tuna?

[MammaG]

Yup, sardines on whole wheat toast. Breakfast in thirty seconds. I had this just about every morning of the first trimester of my last pregnancy...wierd, huh? But it is yummy. I don't butter the toast. I just drizzle on the olive oil from the can. Lots of freshly ground black pepper on top.

I also sometimes substitute sardines for anchovys in anchovy sauce recipes if I want something a little less fishy. That's good, too.

[witchygrrl]

I eat them with crackers, but yeah, same idea as on toast. Super yum!

[zinemama]

Sardines on toast!

Toast up your bread. Put the sardines on, mush up a little if you want. Top with thinly sliced red onion, chopped parsely and a drizzle of lemon juice. Mmm.

[gardenmommy]

Originally Posted by ursusarctos

I haven't had boneless skinless so can't compare, but my strategy is just not to look too closely You can't really taste or feel the bone and skin because they get soft when they cook.

This just made me chuckle! I guess I'm going to have to try some sardines now.

[peaceful_mama]

DH got me into them! mash with utensil, salt, lemon or lime, and if you're us you put some chili powder on it. Yes, it *would* be good on toast---mmmm.......

[Thystle]

I prefer them on crackers with mustard.


You really don't feel the bones.

[Magelet]

I think you must have to mash them first, cause I really do feel the bones a bit, but they're not bad.

I actually haven't eaten them whole, we mostly use them chopped in pasta/sauce (pretty much interchangeably with anchovies)

[Asparagus78]

DS1 loves sardines... He eats them straight out of the can. They're a great choice if you're going to eat fish - low in mercury and other contaminants and high in good fats (omega 3 especially). Enjoy!

[Rainbow2911]

We all adore sardines in tomato sauce. The kids love them mashed on toast and I like to make a pate with them - just blend the can of fish with some cream and some fresh parsley if you have some. You can sub the cream with yogurt or cream cheese or pretty much any dairy product. You could use sardines in olive oil and some tomato puree instead. Not too fishy and very tasty!
Trout is a very mild and yummy fish that is worth trying. I just score the skin and grill the fillets for 4-5 minutes.

[lakeruby]

subbing for more yummy sardine ideas. i've been wanting to try them too but am grossed out by the thought.
I've seen lots of folks eat them on toast, though, mashed up with some avocado.

[New_Natural_Mom]

I have decided to get some this weekend and my DH just said, "have fun with that." I must confess, you wonderful ladies came up with some great suggestions, but they all still sound gross to me.

I think I will start with pate, b/c really, I don't think I can just eat them straight. Maybe the tomato sauce will work (but we try not to eat nightshades.)

How young do you start on fish like sardines (or anything, even shellfish)? DS just turned 2.

[tinybutterfly]

Hi!

I lurk here sometimes.

I am a very picky eater. I don't particularly like fish. It tastes too fishy.

But I remember eating sardines with my dad when I was a kid. He'd get them in mustard sauce and we'd eat them on toast or crackers. They were good!

This thread and all of you have prodded me to pick up some sardines next time I'm at the grocery.

OP, good luck trying them. You could maybe cut off their heads and then make the pate, though it really doesn't matter. Just the whole psychological factor of not having the head in there might help you a little.

They really are tasty. Come back and tell us how it went!

Back to lurking for me!

[zinemama]

I have no problem putting a whole-from-the-can sardine on toast. But the idea of mushing it into a pate...now that doesn't sit well. Although I can appreciate that it probably tastes just fine.

Also, the sardines I get in the can don't have heads.

[Vaquitita]

i needed this thread. i have a can sitting in my cupboard because i want to try them, but haven't. but i gotta try them. on toast with avocado maybe, cause i have that. or the mixed with cream cheese? that would be similar then to a cream cheese and smoked trout spread i had at a friends house recently that was pretty good.

[Rico'sAlice]

I like the ones in spicy tomato sauce. Smash and put on toast.

If we have the plain kind I make a quick/easy tarter sauce (just mayo, relish, capers, maybe lemon juice)

[desertpenguin]

did anyone see this the other day? i've been wondering how this affects the availability.Last U.S. sardine cans being packed in Maine

[raksmama]

Ds (12) has eaten them straight from the can since he was 3. I must confess I don't really like them but I really WANT to like them but can't!
I've got a question does it matter where they are from. I used to buy some but then found out they were from Poland-the Baltic sea which is very polluted. What kind do you all buy?