National Sardines Day
November 24, 2025
Celebrate sardines: small, oily fish packed with omega‑3s, calcium (if you eat the bones), vitamin D, and umami — versatile, affordable, and shelf‑stable.
Quick background
- “Sardine” refers to several small pelagic species (e.g., Atlantic, Pacific, pilchard). Canned sardines rose in popularity 19th–20th centuries as a nutritious preserved protein. They’re eaten worldwide — in Mediterranean, Portuguese, Filipino, and North African cuisines.
How to celebrate
- Open a few different tins (olive oil, mustard, smoked, in tomato) and taste the variety.
- Add sardines to snacks, salads, pasta, or toast for quick, flavorful meals.
- Try grilling fresh sardines where available (season simply and serve with lemon).
- Host a sardine tasting or pairings with bread, pickles, olives, and wine.
Quick serving ideas
- Sardine toast: mash sardines with lemon, olive oil, and a little Dijon; spread on toasted sourdough, top with capers, herbs, or pickled onion.
- Simple pasta: sauté garlic, chili flakes, and breadcrumbs in olive oil; add flaked sardines, lemon zest, chopped parsley, and tossed hot pasta.
- Mediterranean salad: mixed greens, chickpeas, cherry tomatoes, olives, red onion, flaked sardines, lemon‑olive oil dressing.
- Sardine crostini: ricotta or cream cheese, sardine halves, shaved fennel, and lemon.
- Puttanesca twist: use sardines in place of anchovies in a tomato, olive, caper sauce.
- Grilled fresh sardines: season with salt, pepper, olive oil, grill 2–3 min per side; finish with lemon and parsley.
Nutrition & sustainability notes
- Nutrient‑dense: high in EPA/DHA, protein, calcium (canned with bones), and vitamin B12.
- Generally low on the food chain and often considered a more sustainable seafood choice than many larger fish — check labels for MSC, pole‑and‑line, or local fishery certifications and seasonal advisories.
- People on blood‑thinning medications should consult a provider about high omega‑3 intake; those with seafood allergies should avoid.
Enjoy National Sardines Day by trying a new tin or grilling fresh sardines for a simple, nutrient-rich meal.
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