ingredient
Sardinha
By Ana Rodrigues
The iconic fish of Portugal, grilled over charcoal during summer festivals and beloved as a symbol of popular culture.
The sardinha is Portugal's most emblematic fish. Portuguese sardines from the Atlantic are prized for their rich, oily flesh, with the season running from May to October. Grilled whole over charcoal and served on bread to catch the juices, sardinhas assadas are the taste of Portuguese summer.
During the Santos Populares festivals in June, the smell of grilling sardines fills every neighbourhood. Sardines are also preserved in tins — Portuguese canned sardines are considered among the world's finest. The sardine is inseparable from Portuguese identity.