Sardines may not be the first seafood that comes to mind when thinking of a delicious and healthy meal, but with this air fryer recipe, you may just change your mind.
Sardines are a small, oily fish that are packed with nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin D, and calcium.
In this post, I will show you how to make the best air fried sardines using a combination of spices and flour. The result is a crispy and flavorful dish that is perfect for a quick and easy weeknight dinner.
💖 Why You’ll Love This Recipe
It’s Incredibly Easy to Make: Gone are the days when cooking fish meant a big mess and a lot of time spent in the kitchen.With this air fryer sardines recipe, you can have a delicious and healthy meal on the table in less than 30 minutes!
All you need to do is mix the spices, coat the sardines, and air fry them. The result is a crispy and flavorful dish that looks and tastes like it took hours to prepare.
Healthy and Nutritious: Sardines are one of the healthiest fish you can eat, packed with nutrients that are essential for a healthy and balanced diet.
They are a great source of omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin D, calcium, and protein, making them an excellent choice for those who want to maintain a healthy and active lifestyle.
✨ Recipe Ingredients
- 6-8 Sardines
- 1 tablespoon Flour
- 3/4 tablespoon Chili Powder
- 1/4 teaspoon Smoked Paprika
- 1 teaspoon Turmeric Powder
- 3/4 tablespoon Garlic Powder
- 1 teaspoon Salt
👨🍳 How To Make
Follow this recipe and make the best air fried sardines:
Step 1
Remove the guts from the fresh sardines.
Step 2
Place the sardines in a large bowl. Add the flour and spices, and mix everything together until the sardines are completely coated.
Step 3
Transfer the sardines to the air fryer (in a single layer) and air fry at 400F for 12-14 minutes. Then, flip them and air fry them for 2-3 more minutes.
Step 4
Remove the sardines from the air fryer and serve with your favorite sauce and side dish. That’s it! Enjoy these delicious air fryer sardines!
💡Tips
1. Preparing The Sardines
When preparing sardines in airfryer, it is important to choose fresh sardines that have been cleaned and gutted. If you are not comfortable cleaning and gutting the sardines yourself, you can ask your fishmonger to do it for you. It is important to clean them thoroughly.
After cleaning, pat the sardines dry with paper towels. That will help the flour and spices stick to the sardines evenly.
When the sardines are dry, you can coat them with the flour and spice mixture. Be sure to coat the sardines evenly with the mixture to ensure that they are crispy and flavorful.
2. Spices And Flavors
The spices used in this recipe are what make it truly special. The combination of chili powder, smoked paprika, turmeric powder, garlic powder, and salt adds a delicious smoky, spicy, and savory flavor to the sardines.
If you like your sardines spicier, you can increase the amount of chili powder or add some cayenne pepper to the mixture.
Similarly, you can adjust the amount of salt to your liking. Experiment with different spices and flavors to create a unique and delicious air fried sardines dish that suits your taste.
3. Using A Marinade
If you want to add even more flavor to your air fryer sardines, try marinating them for a few hours before air frying.
A simple marinade of olive oil, lemon juice, and herbs, such as thyme or rosemary, can add a delicious flavor to the sardines.
Simply place them in a dish and cover them with the marinade. Make sure that the sardines are fully coated in the marinade, then cover the dish and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
When you’re ready to cook, remove the sardines from the marinade and proceed with the recipe as normal.
You’ll Love These Recipes Too
If you liked these air fryer sardines, make sure to check out these recipes as well:
- Air Fryer Beets
- Air Fryer Yogurt Chicken
- Air Fryer Teriyaki Chicken Wings
- Air Fryer Parmesan Zucchini
Air Fryer Sardines
- 6-8 Sardines
- 1 tablespoon Flour
- 3/4 tablespoon Chili Powder
- 1/4 teaspoon Smoked Paprika
- 1 teaspoon Turmeric Powder
- 3/4 tablespoon Garlic Powder
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- Remove the guts from the fresh sardines.
- Place the sardines in a large bowl. Add the flour and spices, and mix everything together until the sardines are completely coated.
- Transfer the sardines to the air fryer (in a single layer) and air fry at 400F for 12-14 minutes. Then, flip them and air fry them for 2-3 more minutes.
- Remove the sardines from the air fryer and serve with your favorite sauce and side dish. That’s it! Enjoy these delicious air fryer sardines!
