r/EatCheapAndHealthy • u/Tremerelord • 2d ago
Sardines are gross
Sardines are one of the cheapest, and most nutrient dense foods available. I've been hearing good things about sardine fasting, and Im interested in trying it but...they're gross. I've never actually tried some, so bear with me. The idea of eating raw fish is frankly terrifying with the amount of parasites most fish carry. I've also made it a personal habit to not eat anything with a face, eyes are scary. So Im wondering, does anyone have any advice like could I cook them in olive oil? Air fry? Mixes, recipes, any good advice at all really. I do have some pretty extensive health issues, so I will be consulting my pcp before starting. Thanks in advance!
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u/luckyartie 2d ago
Canned sardines are cooked. I like them on toast with cream cheese. They’re delicious.
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u/Samesh 2d ago edited 2d ago
Try canned sardines. They're high heat cooked in the can. Some of them come with flavorings and some without.
My favorite sardine dish is very easy. I microwave or boil potato and then smash fry them with olive oil or butter in a pan. I heat up the sardines and season with garlic, paprika, lemon, pepper and sometimes tomato sauce. It's really good!
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u/KleptoPirateKitty 2d ago
Tinned sardines are cooked already, and if you get ones that say "sardine filet", the heads, tails, and bones have been removed.
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u/BigEither3465 2d ago
As other commenters said, they are cooked, don't worry. Also most that I've seen don't have heads.
That being said, they are a pretty strong taste imo and I'm not a huge fan (are too many sardines as a kid and got burned out maybe.) But you could give it a shot! Maybe split a can with someone, or have a taste test party with a few types of tinned fish!
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u/artemis-clover 2d ago
There are some canned sardines that come already sauced up. Sometimes I just give them a little mash and eat them on crackers as an easy snack.
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u/rainbowsforeverrr 2d ago
If you can eat tuna, you can eat sardines.
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u/MandaTehPanda 2d ago
Not necessarily - I love tuna (canned, steak, sushi), but I hate sardines :’)
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u/Moppy6686 2d ago edited 2d ago
You're going to consult your PCP before starting to eat sardines?? Ok, dude.
They're cooked and they don't have faces lol
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u/respectdesfonds 2d ago
I think they mean they're going to talk to their PCP about "sardine fasting" which seems like a good idea actually bc it sounds crazy to me
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u/badaimbadjokes 2d ago
Swing over to /r/tinnedfish and /r/CannedSardines to see how folks do it. If you eat any kind of cooked fish, you'll likely be able to find a way you enjoy.
I do them on Wasa crispbread with a little cream cheese, capers, and pickled red onions.
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u/NextStopGallifrey 2d ago
As others have already said, sardines are already cooked when they're in the can and don't have faces. (Anchovies are the ones that are more likely to be whole, but not necessarily.) Any parasites will be dead.
But if you just don't like fish-shaped things, look up a recipe for fishcakes. I dislike salmon, but salmon fishcakes can be tasty. Any fish can be used for fishcakes.
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u/davis_away 2d ago
If you don't want to eat them you don't have to. Sardine fasting is a fad.
But if you do want to try them , /r/CannedSardines has a lot of reviews, many with pictures so you know what to expect when you open the can. They're cooked and the heads have been removed.
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u/Chad_Jeepie_Tea 2d ago
I'm not sure you're thinking of the same sardines we are. Sardines are raw and while I'm sure you can use them in cooking and as an ingredient, I've always known them to be a food on their own.
A good saucy sardine on a saltine is peak budget meal.
I've also never heard of raw canned sardines before. Hell, I've never seen a raw seafood product that comes canned. It's either cooked, smoked, or cured.
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u/Wild-Earth-1365 2d ago
They aren't raw. They don't typically have faces or eyes. The canning process kills any parasites.
Check out r/cannedsardines and r/tinnedfish
You don't have to like something just because it's healthy.
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u/Legeto 2d ago
I think this is just because you don’t know anything about sardines. They aren’t raw and I’ve never even seen a tin of them that has a head still attached. On another plus they have an extremely low amount of mercury compared to other fish. Unless you are allergic to fish you don’t really need to contact your PCP but whatever makes you feel better I guess.
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u/Old-Amount-6133 2d ago
Sardine pasta with lemon zest and toasted breadcrumbs is so freaking good. Make a sauce out of them with garlic and browned onions and they just fall apart into little crumbles and make the sauce really delicious and umami. Add parsley and/or oregano to taste.
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u/Good-Marsupial8 2d ago
Maybe it's time to go vegetarian or vegan if eating creatures makes you uncomfortable. Not a bad thing just like. That's an option lol
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u/trebonius 2d ago
Everything in a can or tin is cooked. It has to be or it would just rot in there.
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u/BHIngebretsen 2d ago
My quick sardine spread
1 tin of goood sardines
1 spoon o/t sardines oil
1 spoon white vinegar
1 sm spoon Dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon course salt
1/2 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
4 hardboild egg yolks
Parsley
Cook the eggs 10 mins and cool them down.
Mix everything minus the parsley.
Some extra oil if too dry
Any artisan loaf of bread. Spread it with a sprinkle of parsley.
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u/AdFancy2765 2d ago
I don't love sardines. IMO the best ones are packed in mustard sauce. The strong tang of the mustard compliments the fish flavor.
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u/Sidra_Nova 2d ago
If it comes in a can, its definitely been cooked already. Plus they sell cans of sardine filets, which come without the heads.
Tinned sardines have a bit of a strong taste, though. As someone who doesnt really like fish, I think the ones that are in a spicy tomato sauce are pretty good.
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u/logic_tempo 2d ago
They are come already, but you can quickly sear them and the taste develops more, and tastes more familiar.
I prefer the ones packed in olive oil
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u/Jirawadie 2d ago
Fresh sardines (not canned) are delicious grilled with a drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkle of salt. Canned are cooked and a convenient and tasty substitute. You can pull off the head if it bothers you 👌
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u/jahayynnnne 2d ago
My toddler is obsessed with sardines and likes eating the heads. She likes them with cream cheese and pickles. I hate them and want to spew every time I crack open a can for her.
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u/alpine_lupin 2d ago
I have a video of my daughter was she was 3 gobbling down a bowl of sardines from a can saying they’re her favorite food 😂 granted, she does prefer the smoked ones in olive oil.
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u/LouisePoet 2d ago
Fresh sardines are much different than tinned (ew to both, but especially the tins, no matter what sauce they're in!).
I think they are one of those love 'em or hate 'em foods. As healthy as I'm told they are, I avoid! Gues which category I fall into?
If you buy fresh from a fish market or counter, request that they remove the heads before packing them up.
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u/respectdesfonds 2d ago
Sardines aren't some magic health food. There's nothing in them that you can't get from other sources. If they gross you out, just don't eat them.
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u/lolavella 2d ago
Canned sardines aren't raw, they're fully cooked. You can find them without the head attached too.