Sardines on Toast is a 5 minute recipe that tastes like the Mediterranean on your plate. One of the tastiest ways to enjoy canned sardines, with a boost of omega-3. This humble recipe will blow your mind on how TASTY it is, even if you’re not a sardine lover. TRUST us on this one– make it your comeback to giving sardines a chance.
So YES we love Sardines. We owe it to our Mediterranean roots and our grandmas who cooked sardine recipes endlessly. It’s usually enjoyed as a snack or a rich seafood meal.
We have adapted cooking fresh Sardines or canned sardines. Our viral Sardine Pasta is a fan favorite, even for non sardine lovers. And it’s a simple easy recipe made with sardines in tins. No Fuss and no mess.
If you’re a fan of toast recipes, make sure to look at our Caprese Toast, Hummus Toast, Baked Brie Toast with Cranberries.
In some ways, more and more people are trying to give sardines a chance, which is AMAZING! And all the more reason to give this sardines on toast recipe a try! We dress it up with our favorite toppings, but you can totally customize it.
Here’s why you should try this toast recipe and why you’ll love it.
Why You’ll Love Sardines on Toast
- SO TASTY! The number one reason is honestly how tasty and delicious this toast recipe is! The feta topping, preserved lemons, Hot Pepper Sauce and more! All this on crusty bread with a drizzle of Tahini Sauce. SO GOOD!
- Quick & Easy. This is a no cook recipe and so if you have the sauces and toppings, all you need is 8 minutes.
- Healthy and nutritious. Sardines are known to be packed with protein, omega-3s, calcium, and vitamin D. You need to eat them like the Mediterraneans and you’ll enjoy them more often!
- Super Affordable! Canned sardines are budget friendly and shelf-stable, you just need to dress them up fancy!
- Customizable. This sardines on toast recipe is purely Mediterranean, spicy, lemony and creamy. You can add an Asian twist like a Misco dressing similar to Miso Cod.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Canned sardines. While you can use Nuri ( a brand from Portugal) known for it’s canned sardines. We use King Oscar Sardines here. It’s readily available at grocery stores and we love the quality and price of it. Use sardines packed in In olive oil, water, jalapenos or your favorite.
- Sliced Veggies. Tomato slices and onion slices are a MUST for this recipe–they each add taste and texture.
- Herbs. While we LOVE dill with our seafood, you can add oregano, parsley, cilantro, mint, tarragon or your favorite herbs.
- Seasoning and Spices. Mainly black pepper and Aleppo pepper or chilli flakes.
- Olive oil – For toasting the bread.
- Sauces. In ode to the family recipes, I top this humble dish which feels like an old school snack with my grandpa’s viral Hot Pepper Sauce. Adding to that our viral Tahini Sauce.
- Bread Slices. Sourdough, whole grain, or rustic baguette.
- Lemon wedges. Optional, but a generous squeeze of lemon brightens everything up.
- Add ons and swaps. Pickles, cucumbers , avocados, a garlic clove minced and more!
How to Make Sardines on Toast
Toast The Bread
- Toast your bread in a toaster until golden to your taste.
- You can either cut the toast in half or keep it large if you prefer. This depends on the size of your toast initially.
- Layer the Sardines on toast by starting off with the tomatoes and onion slices.
- You can optionally rub a clove of garlic over the bread before layering.
- Now you’re going to add the sardines from the tin right over the onions.
- While some people love to smash the sardines slightly onto the bread, we love keeping them whole.
- Some feta crumbles, lemon pieces (or preserved lemons) go on top along with some dill, parsley and chili flakes.
- Add dollops of my grandpa’s homemade and VIRAL Hot Pepper Sauce.
- Drizzle as little or as much as you like of our famous Tahini Sauce. In case you’re not familiar with how fish is served on the Mediterranean, it’s always served with Tahini sauce! Which we acknowledge may sound unfamiliar since tahini is made popular here as a salad dressing only. But authentically it’s way more than that!
- Now season the sardines on toast with some cracked black pepper and extra dill if you like.
- Finish with a squeeze of lemon juice and a healthy drizzle of olive oil.
- SO GOOD!
Sardines On toast Recipe Tips
- Choose quality sardines for this recipe. They are the HERO ingredient and need to shine.
- Best to look for wild caught and sustainably sourced sardines.
- Nuri is a great sardine sourced from Portugal, but it may be hard to find.
- We LOVE King Oscar sardines– they’re boneless, wild caught, sustainably sourced, affordable and readily available.
- Use toasted, sturdy bread. This is how the toppings hold up together.
- Start by layering veggies first before putting the sardines directly on the bread.
- Cut your toppings into small bits so they don’t over load the bread.
- Sauce it up! Repeating the note above, in case you’re not familiar with how fish is served on the Mediterranean, it’s always served with Tahini sauce! Which we acknowledge may sound unfamiliar since tahini is made popular here as a salad dressing only. But authentically it’s way more than that!
- Finish with a drizzle of lemon juice and olive oil for a perfect finish.
Are sardines on toast healthy?
Yes! Sardines are loaded with omega-3 fatty acids, Vitamin D and proteins. They’re low in mercury making them one of the most nutritious fish.
What kind of sardines should I use?
Look for sardines in olive oil for richness or in water for a lighter option. You can also use sardines in tomato sauce or with chili for extra flavor.
Do I need to remove the bones or skin?
We buy the boneless sardines from King Oscar. You can however buy the regular ones and NO you don’t need to remove bones at all! Sardine bones are tiny, soft, and full of calcium. The skin is also edible. But if you prefer, you can mash them to break everything down.
How do I make it less “fishy”?
Use our toppings as a guide, Tahini Sauce , finishing off with lemon juice. Choosing high-quality sardines also makes a big difference.
Can I make sardines on toast ahead of time?
Not really because the bread will become soggy. It’s best made fresh. But you can prep the sardine topping ahead and toast the bread just before serving.
Is this a breakfast, snack, or dinner?
Frankly, all of the above! It’s protein-packed enough for breakfast, satisfying enough for lunch, and perfect with a salad or soup for dinner.
What bread is best?
Sourdough, rye, baguette, or hearty whole grain breads are ideal. Anything with a firm texture and structure to hold up the toppings.
Can I use flavored sardines?
Absolutely YES! It’s a personal taste, so feel free to use your favorites.
What to Serve with Sardines on Toast
Soups, Salads, and veggies. We love it as it is, or as a side of any meal.
Variations on Sardines on Toast
Once you’ve tried this recipe, you’ll soon explore more ways to enjoy sardines on toast!
- Another Mediterranean Sardine Toast
This involves Sardines with Greek flavors like chopped tomatoes, sliced kalamata olives (or Tapenade). Some capers, and fresh parsley. Finish with a drizzle of good extra virgin olive oil and fresh oregano. - Spicy Sardine Toast
Mash sardines with a squeeze of lemon and a teaspoon of harissa aioli or chili oil. Spread on toast and top with arugula or sliced jalapeños for an extra kick. - Avocado & Sardines Tartine
Mash ripe avocado with a pinch of salt, cilantro and lemon juice. Spread on toast, then add sardines, sliced onions and a sprinkle of chili flakes. This simple toast can be loaded with tomato slices, jalapenos and any other topping. - Garlic Herb Sardine Toast
Rub warm toasted bread with a clove of garlic, top with sardines, lots of herbs and lemon salsa. Similar to a Chimichurri Recipe, the herbs lemon and olive oil salsa are perfect with sardines. We had it with our Grilled Shrimp and it was PERFECT. - Creamy Sardine Spread
Mash sardines with a little sour cream or Mayo (similar to our mixture on this Tuna Cucumber Salad). Add to that capers, onions and herbs. Add lemon zest and juice, mash and spread on toast for a rich, dip-like version. Something like our Smoked Salmon Dip but minus the cream cheese.
10 Mins Seafood Recipes
Sardine Pasta
Miso Salmon
Tuna Cucumber Salad
Seared Ahi Tuna
Tuna Tartare
Air Fryer Salmon Bites
Chili Lime Shrimp
Tuna Tataki
Salmon Carpaccio
Sardines On Toast
Ingredients
Bread
- 4 sourdough toasts thick and large
Sardines
- 2 cans sardines Quality sardines
Toppings
- 1 red onion sliced
- 1 Tomato thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoon feta cheese crumbles
- 1 slice of lemon cut finely into dice, or use preserved lemon
- 2 tabelspoons dill minced and add in some fresh parsley minced as well
- 1 Tablespoon hot sauce our homemade family recipe is BEST
- 2-3 Tablespoons tahini sauce our homemade is best
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 1 lemon wedges squeezed at the end
Instructions
-
Toast your bread in a toaster until golden to your taste.
-
You can either cut the toast in half or keep it large if you prefer. This depends on the size of your toast initially.
-
Layer the Sardines on toast by starting off with the tomatoes and onion slices.
-
You can optionally rub a clove of garlic over the bread before layering.
-
Now you're going to add the sardines from the tin right over the onions.
-
While some people love to smash the sardines slightly onto the bread, we love keeping them whole.
-
Some feta crumbles, lemon pieces (or preserved lemons) go on top along with some dill, parsley and chili flakes.
-
Add dollops of my grandpa's homemade and VIRAL Hot Pepper Sauce.
-
Drizzle as little or as much as you like of our famous Tahini Sauce. In case you're not familiar with how fish is served on the Mediterranean, it's always served with Tahini sauce! Which we acknowledge may sound unfamiliar since tahini is made popular here as a salad dressing only. But authentically it's way more than that!
-
Now season the sardines on toast with some cracked black pepper and extra dill if you like.
-
Finish with a squeeze of lemon juice and a healthy drizzle of olive oil.
-
SO GOOD!
Recipe Notes
Sardines On toast Recipe Tips
- Choose quality sardines for this recipe. They are the HERO ingredient and need to shine.
- Best to look for wild caught and sustainably sourced sardines.
- Nuri is a great sardine sourced from Portugal, but it may be hard to find.
- We LOVE King Oscar sardines-- they're boneless, wild caught, sustainably sourced, affordable and readily available.
- Use toasted, sturdy bread. This is how the toppings hold up together.
- Start by layering veggies first before putting the sardines directly on the bread.
- Cut your toppings into small bits so they don't over load the bread.
- Sauce it up! Repeating the note above, in case you're not familiar with how fish is served on the Mediterranean, it's always served with Tahini sauce! Which we acknowledge may sound unfamiliar since tahini is made popular here as a salad dressing only. But authentically it's way more than that!
- Finish with a drizzle of lemon juice and olive oil for a perfect finish.
Are sardines on toast healthy?
Yes! Sardines are loaded with omega-3 fatty acids, Vitamin D and proteins. They’re low in mercury making them one of the most nutritious fish.
What kind of sardines should I use?
Look for sardines in olive oil for richness or in water for a lighter option. You can also use sardines in tomato sauce or with chili for extra flavor.
Do I need to remove the bones or skin?
We buy the boneless sardines from King Oscar. You can however buy the regular ones and NO you don't need to remove bones at all! Sardine bones are tiny, soft, and full of calcium. The skin is also edible. But if you prefer, you can mash them to break everything down.
How do I make it less "fishy"?
Use our toppings as a guide, Tahini Sauce , finishing off with lemon juice. Choosing high-quality sardines also makes a big difference.
Can I make sardines on toast ahead of time?
Not really because the bread will become soggy. It’s best made fresh. But you can prep the sardine topping ahead and toast the bread just before serving.
Is this a breakfast, snack, or dinner?
Frankly, all of the above! It’s protein-packed enough for breakfast, satisfying enough for lunch, and perfect with a salad or soup for dinner.
What bread is best?
Sourdough, rye, baguette, or hearty whole grain breads are ideal. Anything with a firm texture and structure to hold up the toppings.
Can I use flavored sardines?
Absolutely YES! It's a personal taste, so feel free to use your favorites.
What to Serve with Sardines on Toast
Soups, Salads, and veggies. We love it as it is, or as a side of any meal.
These toasts are so beautiful! It almost makes you forget you’re eating a humble tinned fish but I love it
This was such a nice change from my usual toast toppings. I’ll be making it again soon!
This is probably my favorite snack now! Definitely my go-to meal when I need something quick and easy.
This looks so good! I love all the interplay of flavors here. I’ve only ever eaten them out of the can.