Sardines à La Chermoula

 Sardine à la Chermoula 

Sardine à la Chermoula is a flavorful and aromatic North African dish featuring sardines marinated in a vibrant and zesty chermoula sauce. Chermoula is a popular marinade used in Moroccan, Tunisian, and Algerian cuisines, typically made with a combination of fresh herbs, garlic, spices, and citrus. Here's a recipe to make Sardine à la Chermoula:

Ingredients

For the Chermoula Sauce:

• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
• 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (adjust to taste)
• Juice of 1 lemon
• Zest of 1 lemon
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• Salt and black pepper to taste

For the Sardines: 

• 4-6 whole sardines, cleaned and gutted
• Salt and black pepper to taste
• Olive oil for grilling
• Lemon wedges for serving
• Flour for dipping

Instructions 

For the Chermoula Sauce:

1. In a food processor or blender, combine the minced garlic, chopped cilantro, chopped parsley, ground cumin, ground coriander, paprika, and cayenne pepper.
2. Add the lemon juice, lemon zest, and olive oil to the mixture.
3. Blend everything until it forms a smooth and vibrant thick sauce. You can adjust the consistency by adding more olive oil if needed.
4. Season the chermoula sauce with salt and black pepper to taste. The sauce should have a balanced and zesty flavor.

For the Sardines:

Prepare the sardines by cleaning and gutting them. You can ask your fishmonger to do this for you. 

Cooking by Oven Grill: 

• Preheat your grill to medium-high heat. Brush the grill grates with olive oil to prevent sticking.
• Brush the sardines with some of the chermoula sauce.
• Grill the sardines for about 3-4 minutes per side, or until they are cooked through and have grill marks. Be gentle when flipping them to avoid breaking the delicate flesh.

Cooking by Frying: 

• Season the sardines with the prepared chermoula thick sauce, then overlapping two sardines together. Coat them with flour.

Serve the grilled sardines with the remaining chermoula sauce and lemon wedges on the side.

Sardine à la Chermoula is a flavorful and vibrant dish that's a true celebration of North African flavors. Enjoy the combination of the zesty chermoula sauce with the smoky goodness of grilled sardines. It's a delightful and unique seafood dish that's perfect for a special meal or a gathering with friends and family.