These crispy lemon garlic sardines are a quick, flavour-packed seafood recipe that cooks in under 10 minutes in the air fryer. Seasoned with garlic, paprika, cumin and lemon zest, the sardines become lightly crisp on the outside while staying tender inside. They’re perfect served on salads, grain bowls, or alongside roasted vegetables.
Crispy Lemon Garlic Sardines (Air Fryer)
Crispy Lemon Garlic Sardines (Air Fryer)
Healthythandi
3
10 minutes
10 minutes
Mediterranean
These crispy lemon garlic sardines are a quick, flavour-packed seafood recipe that cooks in under 10 minutes in the air fryer. Seasoned with garlic, paprika, cumin and lemon zest, the sardines become lightly crisp on the outside while staying tender inside. They’re perfect served on salads, grain bowls, or alongside roasted vegetables.
Ingredients
blank
8–10 fresh sardines, cleaned
1½ tbsp olive oil
1 tsp garlic, finely grated
zest of ½ lemon
½ tsp paprika
¼ tsp ground cumin
¼ tsp salt
¼ tsp black pepper
pinch chilli flakes (optional)
blank
1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
2 tbsp chopped parsley or coriander
Method
blank
If using whole sardines, remove the heads and guts.
Rinse the fish under cold water and pat them completely dry with paper towels.
For faster cooking and crispier results, butterfly the sardines by opening them flat and removing the spine.
blank
In a small bowl combine olive oil, grated garlic, lemon zest, paprika, cumin, salt and black pepper.
Rub the seasoning mixture evenly over the sardines.
Let the fish sit for about 10 minutes if time allows so the flavours absorb.
blank
Preheat the air fryer to 200°C.
Arrange the sardines in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
Cook for 6–8 minutes until the skin is slightly crispy and the fish flakes easily.
If the sardines are butterflied, flipping is not necessary.
blank
Immediately squeeze fresh lemon juice over the sardines.
Sprinkle with chopped parsley or coriander.