Hamsi Tava - fried sardines Turkey

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.