Pressure Cooker Sardines in Tomato Sauce
A comforting, budget-friendly dish bursting with Mediterranean flavors. Whole sardines simmer gently in a fragrant tomato, garlic, and fresh herb sauce until perfectly tender and juicy. Ideal for a weeknight family dinner, this effortless recipe pairs beautifully with fluffy white rice.
🛒 Ingredients
6 servings
- 500 g whole fresh sardines, cleaned and gutted
- 4 ripe tomatoes, peeled and deseeded
- 1 medium onion, thinly sliced
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 bunch of fresh cilantro (or flat-leaf parsley)
- 1 small can tomato paste (70 g)
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 1 small bell pepper, thinly sliced
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- ½ cup (125 ml) water
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Directions
- 1
Rinse the sardines thoroughly and marinate for 15 minutes with minced garlic, lemon juice, salt and freshly ground pepper.
- 2
Heat olive oil in the pressure cooker over medium heat. Sauté the sliced onion until soft and lightly golden.
- 3
Add the sliced bell pepper and cook for 2 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- 4
Stir in the chopped tomatoes, tomato paste, bay leaf and water. Mix well and simmer for 5 minutes over low heat.
- 5
Carefully arrange the marinated sardines over the tomato sauce in a single snug layer.
- 6
Scatter freshly chopped cilantro evenly over the sardines.
- 7
Seal the pressure cooker and cook over medium heat for 30 minutes. If using a regular pot, cook covered for 45 minutes.
- 8
Release pressure carefully, drizzle with a little olive oil and serve hot alongside white rice.
💡 Chef's Tip
Choose the smallest, freshest sardines available — they cook more evenly and soak up the sauce beautifully. Swap cilantro for flat-leaf parsley if you prefer a milder herb flavor. Leftovers taste even better the next day once all the flavors have fully melded together.
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