Source: Esin Deniz via Adobe Stock
Hamsi Tava - fried sardines Turkey
"Hamsi Tava" is one of my favorite Turkish dishes. It is a classic coastal dish made mainly with fresh sardines. I first came across it on my trip to the Black Sea coast of Turkey and was impressed by its simplicity and delicious taste. Sardines are dipped in cornmeal and fried until crispy.
Ingredients
- 1 kg fresh sardines
- 2 Cups Corn grits
- salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
- 1 lemon
- Olive oil for frying
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Directions
For the "Hamsi Tava" recipe, start by cleaning the sardines: Remove the head and innards, then rinse thoroughly. The sardines should be left whole, as this helps to retain their natural flavor during preparation.
Then dry the sardines lightly and season with salt and pepper.
Turn each sardine in the cornmeal to coat them lightly in breadcrumbs. This gives the sardines a crispy texture when they are fried.
Heat the olive oil in a large frying pan over a medium heat.
Once the oil is hot, place the sardines in the pan and fry for about 3-4 minutes on each side or until golden brown. The right frying temperature makes all the difference here, as oil that is too hot will burn the sardines and oil that is too cool will make them spongy.
Drain the sardines on kitchen paper to remove any excess oil. Serve the Turkish "Hamsi Tava" hot, garnished with fresh lemon slices.