15-Minute Sardine Rillettes (with Fresh or Canned Sardines)
Sardines Rillettes is a creamy, lemony spread you can pull together in minutes — no cooking required if you're using good canned sardines. Just mash the fish with Greek yogurt, softened butter, briny capers, and fresh herbs, then pile it onto crusty baguette or crackers for an easy, elegant starter. Prefer fresh sardines? A quick poach is all it takes. Naturally gluten-free.
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 69kcal
Equipment
Fork
Ingredients
- 2 tins of high-quality sardines in olive oil (see note below if working with fresh sardines)
- 4 Tbsp Greek yogurt, sour cream, or crème fraîche
- 2 Tbsp unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 Tbsp capers, drained and roughly chopped
- 1 Tbsp chives, finely chopped
- 1 Tbsp fresh dill, finely chopped
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- 1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
- ½ tsp Kosher salt
- ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Remove the sardine bones. Use your hands or a small fork to gently open up each sardine (kind of like a book). The bones will be visible on one side of the fillet, and should easily lift away. Discard the bones, then place the fish fillets into a medium bowl.
- Mash the sardines. Use a fork to gently mash the sardines into a paste-like consistency.
- Add remaining ingredients. Add 4 Tbsp Greek yogurt, 2 Tbsp room temperature butter, 1 Tbsp capers, 1 Tbsp chives, 1 Tbsp chopped dill, lemon zest, lemon juice, ½ tsp Kosher salt, and ¼ tsp black pepper. Stir gently to combine.
- Refrigerate. Cover tightly, then refrigerate rillettes for 1 hour.
- Serve. Allow the rillettes to come up slightly to room temperature, then serve with crackers or baguette.
Notes
- Fresh sardines are fantastic here, however, they need to be cooked before they go into the bowl. Unlike canned sardines, which are already fully cooked, raw fresh fish shouldn't go straight into a no-cook mixture like this one. Full details in recipe post if you're going this route.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- No Greek yogurt? Use sour cream or crème fraîche instead.
Nutrition
Calories: 69kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 34mg | Sodium: 270mg | Potassium: 90mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 130IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 82mg | Iron: 1mg
Did you make this recipe?Tag @wellseasonedstudio and hashtag it #wellseasonedstudio!
