Free delivery* for any order above HK$ 800
Free delivery* for any order above HK$ 800
Sardines are affordable, delicious, and the most nutritious fish you can buy. Packed with essential nutrients like omega-3s, protein, and vitamins, our sardines from Portugal are a pantry staple everyone should have. Intimidated by the thought of cleaning and prepping them yourself? Don’t worry—it’s easier than you think!
Under cold running water, gently rinse the sardines to clean them. With an open pair of kitchen scissors, use the cutting edge to carefully scrape away the tiny scales, working from the tail toward the head. Be gentle—applying too much pressure can easily tear the delicate skin. Sardine scales are small and soft, so it’s better to leave a few behind than risk damaging the skin or flesh.
Using the same pair of scissors, snip off the head behind the gills. Do this at a slight angle so that you also snip off the small pectoral fins on each side.
Now take the scissors and snip the belly open, starting at the opening where the head used to be.
Using your fingers, pinch the dorsal fin and pull it free from the fish. This fin has bones that are usually a little too big to eat, so you want them out.
Using your fingers, scrape out the contents of the belly. Rinse the cleaned cavity under gently running cold water, scraping out any blood, membranes, or viscera clinging to the inside.
Spread the belly cavity open and find the spine: It runs right along the top side of the belly from the neck, then continues all the way down to the tail. Using your fingers, carefully pinch the spine, pulling it free of the surrounding flesh. It should pull free fairly easily, but take care not to gouge the flesh as you go; this is relatively easy to do, but if you’re in too much of a rush or aren’t paying attention you can tear up the fillets.
If you want to clean the sardine more, you can use your scissors to trim the belly flaps and neck end for a nicer presentation. You can also snip off the tail, if desired.
