Roasted Sardines with Daikon
Prep
15 mins
Cook
25 mins
Servings
4
Difficulty
Easy
This is one of my favorite quick weeknight dinners that feels elegant but comes together in under an hour. Fresh sardines are incredibly affordable and packed with omega 3 fatty acids that are wonderful for your heart, while the roasted daikon adds a lovely mild sweetness and crunch. The beauty of this dish is its simplicity: you just toss everything on a sheet pan with garlic, lemon, and fresh herbs, then let the oven do the work. It's the kind of meal that tastes like you spent all afternoon cooking when really you've barely lifted a finger.
Ella x
Ingredients
- 12fresh sardines(cleaned and gutted)
- 1 largedaikon radish(cut into 2-inch batons)
- 5 tablespoonsextra virgin olive oil
- 2lemon(zest and juice)
- 4garlic cloves(minced)
- 2 tablespoonsfresh thyme(chopped)
- 1 teaspoonsea salt
- ½ teaspoonblack pepper
- ¼ teaspoonred pepper flakes
- 2 tablespoonswhite wine vinegar
- 3 tablespoonsfresh parsley(chopped)
Detail level
Instructions
- 1
Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C). Pat the cleaned sardines dry with paper towels and season inside and out with salt and pepper.
Tip: Dry sardines will roast more evenly and develop a crispier skin.
- 2
Toss the daikon batons with 2 tablespoons of olive oil, minced garlic, half the thyme, and a pinch of salt. Spread on one half of a large baking sheet.
Tip: Cutting daikon into uniform batons ensures even cooking.
- 3
Roast the daikon for 12 minutes until it begins to soften and caramelize at the edges.
- 4
While daikon roasts, arrange sardines on the other half of the baking sheet. Drizzle with remaining 3 tablespoons of olive oil and sprinkle with remaining thyme and red pepper flakes.
- 5
Add the sardines to the oven and roast alongside the daikon for 10-12 minutes until the sardines are cooked through and skin is crispy.
Tip: Sardines cook quickly, so watch carefully to avoid overcooking.
- 6
In a small bowl, whisk together lemon juice, lemon zest, and white wine vinegar to create the glaze.
- 7
Remove the baking sheet from the oven and drizzle the lemon-vinegar glaze over both sardines and daikon.
- 8
Garnish with fresh chopped parsley and serve immediately while warm.
Tip: The acidity of the citrus glaze brightens the rich flavors of the roasted sardines.
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