A beautifully plated dish, displaying golden, crispy sardines resting atop a bed of velvety citrus-infused leek puree, garnished with vibrant red chilies and microgreens. The play of colors makes it perfect for an Instagram shot!

Pan-Seared Sardines with Citrus Leek Puree

Name: Pan-Seared Sardines with Citrus Leek Puree
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 50 min
Yield: 2
Cuisine: Chinese
Ingredients: Sardines, 4 cleaned and descaled; Leeks, 2 thinly sliced; Fresh ginger, 1 inch peeled and grated; Fresh garlic, 2 cloves minced; Red chilies, 2 thinly sliced; Orange, 1 zested and juiced; Extra Virgin Olive Oil, 2 tablespoons None; Soy sauce, 2 teaspoons None; Salt, to taste None; Black pepper, to taste None; Microgreens, a handful for garnish

Category Main Course

Prep 30 minutes

Cook 20 minutes

Style Chinese

Technique Pan-searing

Diet Friendly Pescatarian

Daily Recipe: December 11, 2023

As cooler winds blow, it's time to warm up your home with a unique, bold, fragely aromatic, and heartwarming dish! Inspired by Chinese cuisine, this recipe brings a seasonal twist to ordinary Sardines, using winter-friendly ingredients like leeks and ginger to pioneer a fresh, healthy, and delightfully surprising main course.

Ingredients (for 2)

Sardines - 4 - cleaned and descaled
Leeks - 2 - thinly sliced
Fresh ginger - 1 inch - peeled and grated
Fresh garlic - 2 cloves - minced
Red chilies - 2 - thinly sliced
Orange - 1 - zested and juiced
Extra virgin olive oil - 2 tablespoons
Soy sauce - 2 teaspoons
Salt - to taste
Black pepper - to taste
Microgreens - a handful - for garnish

Preparation

Step 1 - 🍊🥣🥢

In a bowl, combine the soy sauce, half of the juice from the orange, grated ginger, and minced garlic to prepare a marinade.
Step 2 - 🐟⏰🥢

Place the sardines in the marinade and let them sit for about 15-20 minutes.
Step 3 - 🥬🍳🔥

Heat a tablespoon of olive oil in a pan, add the sliced leeks and cook until they're tender.
Step 4 - 🍊🧂🌪️

Add the remaining orange juice, zest, and a pinch of salt to the pan and heat it for a few more minutes. Once done, blend the mixture until pureed and set aside to keep it warm.
Step 5 - 🍳🐟🔥

In the same pan, add another tablespoon of olive oil and sear the marinated sardines on each side until they have a golden crispy layer.
Step 6 - 🥬🐟🌶️

Spread a generous amount of the leek puree on a plate, place the seared sardines neatly on top and garnish with sliced red chilies and microgreens.

Additional

This aromatic dish has a balance of flavors - the umami from the sardines, the hint of sweetness from the leeks, the tartness of the citrus, and the heat from the chilies. If sardines are not your preferred type of fish, you can easily substitute it with mackerel or salmon. Kids can help with creating the marinade and the puree under adult supervision.