Glistening sardine skewers bursting with robust colors from the Ponzu glaze cross one side of the plate. Opposite, sit pop-color edamame-stuffed tomatoes dusted with black sesame. The clash of crimson tomatoes, green edamame, and lustrous sardines scream summer vibrancy in this Instagram-worthy dish.

Glazed Sardine Skewers with Edamame-Stuffed Tomatoes

Name: Glazed Sardine Skewers with Edamame-Stuffed Tomatoes
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 2
Cuisine: Japanese
Ingredients: Fresh sardines, 6 cleaned and heads removed; Ponzu sauce, 1/2 cup; Honey, 1 tablespoon; Fresh tomatoes, 4 medium-sized; Cooked edamame, 1 cup; Black sesame seeds, 1 teaspoon; White sesame seeds, 1 teaspoon; Soy sauce, 1 tablespoon; Wakame seaweed, 1/2 cup rehydrated and chopped; Olive oil, 1 tablespoon; Sea salt, to taste

Category Main Course

Prep 20 minutes

Cook 10 minutes

Style Japanese

Technique Grilling

Diet Friendly Pescatarian

Daily Recipe: July 27, 2025

This delightful avant-garde recipe playfully fuses traditional Japanese ingredients with an unexpected protagonist - the sardine. Utilizing fresh, seasonal produce, our sardines will dance in a tangy Ponzu glaze that's sure to cool you down on a hot summer day.

Ingredients (for 2)

Fresh sardines - 6 - cleaned and heads removed
Ponzu sauce - 1/2 cup
Honey - 1 tablespoon
Fresh tomatoes - 4 - medium-sized
Cooked edamame - 1 cup
Black sesame seeds - 1 teaspoon
White sesame seeds - 1 teaspoon
Soy sauce - 1 tablespoon
Wakame seaweed - 1/2 cup - rehydrated and chopped
Olive oil - 1 tablespoon
Sea salt - to taste

Preparation

Step 1 - 🔥🐟🍯

Start your grill or heat a grill pan to high heat. Marinate your sardines in a mixture of the ponzu sauce and honey. Let them sit for about 15 minutes to absorb the tangy-sweet flavors.
Step 2 - 🍅🔪🥄

Remove the tops of the fresh tomatoes and delicately scoop out the insides to create a space for the enticing filling.
Step 3 - 🥣🥢🌿

In a separate bowl, combine the cooked edamame, both kinds of sesame seeds, soy sauce and chopped wakame. Mix them well. This will act as your filling for the tomatoes.
Step 4 - 🍅🐟🍡

Pile the prepared filling into the hollowed-out tomatoes. Skewer your marinated sardines, aiming for about 3 per skewer. Drizzle with olive oil and a sprinkle of sea salt for an extra succulent layer of flavor.
Step 5 - 🔥⏰🍽️

Grill the skewered sardines for around 2 minutes on each side or until thoroughly cooked and beautiful grill marks appear. Be careful not to overcook. Simultaneously grill the stuffed tomatoes until they are slightly soft and charred.
Step 6 - 😋🍽️🎉

Once grilled to perfection, serve your skewered sardines and stuffed tomatoes hot. Use any leftover ponzu as a tangy, delectable dipping sauce.

Additional

Traditionally, sardines are an underestimated and underutilized gem of the sea in America. Rich in omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals, they are a nutritional powerhouse often lost in the Western pantry. This recipe takes advantage of the humble sardine and transforms it into a gourmet experience. For an interactive cooking experience, have kids skewer the sardines!