Pan-Fried Sardines with Lemon Butter Drizzle
A simple yet flavorful dish of pan-fried sardines drizzled with a zesty lemon butter sauce, perfect for a quick gourmet meal.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 minutes
- Total Time: 18 minutes
- Yield: 2 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Pan Frying
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
- Diet: Pescatarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 fresh sardines
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 lemon, juiced
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
- Parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Clean the sardines by rinsing them under cold water, then pat them dry with paper towels.
- Season the cleaned sardines with salt and pepper on both sides.
- Heat a tablespoon of olive oil in a large frying pan over medium heat until it shimmers.
- Sauté the sardines in the pan for about 2-3 minutes on each side until golden brown and crispy.
- Combine the butter and the juice of one lemon in the last minute of cooking, swirling it gently to create a sauce.
- Remove the sardines from the heat and place them on a serving platter.
- Drizzle the lemon butter sauce over the sardines and garnish with chopped parsley.
Notes
Fresh sardines are best for this dish; however, frozen sardines can be used if thawed properly. Pair with a simple salad or crusty bread.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 0g
- Sodium: 300mg
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 0g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 60mg