AS I survived living independently since three years ago, among the things tha I've done pretty well is making my own food. And delightfully, we can actually make delicious food out of the ordinary and staple canned sardines.
We really cannot avoid being on tight with our budget but that does not mean we should also eat poorly just because we ran short on our expenses for food. Searching the internet for recipes and just matching what ingredients were left in my kitchen, I created delicious food that I also serve to friends when they visit- and you guess it right, they love it!
Luxent Hotel Executive Chef Kim Dalisay shared some of these recipes online, so everyone can treat themselves with good meal anytime of the day.
Pasta Aglio Olio with Sautéed Sardines
Filling and comforting, this is the ultimate representation of a quick and easy weeknight pasta dish. Additionally, it packs a ton of flavors without the calorie-laden ingredients!
Ingredients:
2 cans - King Cup Sardines with Chili, drained
4kg - Angel hair
500 ml - Pure olive oil
500g - Garlic
10g - Garlic powder
4g - Pepper
250g - Parmesan cheese
250g -Parsley
Procedure:
1. Boil water with salt in a pot. Add angel hair pasta and boil it for 10 minutes until al dente.
2. In a pan, add pure olive oil, then sauté garlic, and Sardines on medium heat.
3. Add the pasta and toss well, then sprinkle with salt, ground pepper, garlic powder, and chili flakes.
4. Garnish with parsley and serve.
Sicilian King Cup Pizza
Punched up with cheese and herbs, this recipe is also perfect on toast. Deliciously affordable and a healthier alternative when you don’t feel like ordering pizza from a fast food, you can also serve this baked dish with a simple salad to complete this comforting meal.
Ingredients:
2 cans - King Cup Sardines in Tomato Sauce
500g - Pizza crust
350g - Mozzarella cheese
120g - Parmesan cheese
200ml - Tomato sauce
20g - Dried oregano
200g - Onion rings
Procedure:
1. Top the pizza crust with tomato sauce (make sure to leave about an inch of bare dough around the edges of the crust), mozzarella cheese, parmesan, dried oregano, onion rings, and sardines.
2. Bake until the cheese and crust begin to brown, about 20 min.
3. Let cool for 5 min.
4. Slice into square and serve.
Herbed Butter Crostini with King Cup Sardines Pâté
Impress family and friends with a creamy pâté that’s surprisingly inexpensive and simple to make. But instead of liver, this recipe is made of King Cup Sardines that provides a rich and mellow flavor. Great on toasts and salads too, so it makes the perfect accompaniment when entertaining at home.
Ingredients:
1 can - King Cup Sardines, drained
2g - French bread
7g - Butter
3g - Garlic
1g - Parsley
.05g - Lemon zest
1.5g - Butter (for pâté)
1 tsp - Fresh thyme
Procedure:
1. Pre-heat oven to 425 °F.
2. Melt the butter on a heavy skillet over medium heat.
3. Add the sardines and stir until they dissolve, around 3 minutes.
4. Stir in the herbs, garlic, and lemon zest.
5. Arrange the bread slices on a baking sheet.
6. Brush the top of the bread slices on a baking sheet.
7. Bake until the bread is golden and toasty, around 7-10 minutes.
There are a lot of good tasting sardines on the supermarket including King Cup Sardines which makes a good match for these recipes. King Cup Sardines in tomato sauce and King Cup Sardines in tomato sauce with chili added are available at all leading supermarkets and groceries nationwide.