Yum For BABY: Sardine Shallow Fry

Sardines are incredibly nutritious and inexpensive too. This fish contains lots of calcium and vitamin D. Sardines also boost energy by providing plenty of protein, iron, vitamin B12 and good fat (in the form of omega-3 fatty acids). Omega-3 fatty acids are not only help with the development of your baby’s brain, but are also a great immunity booster. Since sardines are low in mercury, these are allowed to include in your little-ones diet.

Sardine fry

My mother used to make me eat sardine when I was a kid and still that is one of the everyday fishes in our family. You can find them fresh everywhere in south

India

, and they are so delicious. Sardines marinated with few spices, salt and fried up in coconut oil and served with a squeeze of lemon juice. Ahaa, so simple and so delicious. Here, fresh sardines are not as common as canned. So I used to buy canned sardines.

Since most of the canned fishes are prepared by steam, cooking these are edible and we don’t have to cook them again. But what I noticed was, without any ingredients these canned fishes are not YUMMY to eat, especially when you buy “Sardine in Water”. So I usually shallow fry them by adding few spices and salt. This is a good way to serve for your kids.

Ingredients

Canned sardine, in water- 2 cans, 4.25 OZ each

Paprika or chilli powder- 1/2 Tsp

Turmeric powder- 1/3 Tsp

Pepper powder, a pinch

Salt, to taste

Coconut oil or any cooking oil- 3 Tbsp

Process

Step 1: Open the can and decant water. I usually wash off the scales from sardine and pat dry them.

Step 2: Make a paste of all spices and salt in water.

Step 3: Marinate sardines with spices paste and keep them aside.

Step 4: Heat a pan over medium heat and add coconut oil. When the oil becomes hot add marinated fish pieces. Shallow fry them (turn them as needed) until the fish turns lightly brown. Do not over fry them since the kids usually like the soft texture of fish.

Step 5: Dry them on a paper towel and sardine fry is ready to serve.

Pull out the soft bone from sardine before you serve them to your kid.

Serve with rice.