Appetizer/ David Lebovitz/ Fish/ Savory/ sourdough

Sardine Spread

 

This is more than a food blog. Once and a while, you get a delicious dose of health advice too. When it comes to vitamin D deficiency, you have to be convinced that sardine will do right for you.

Not only that, a can of sardine is easy to carry. In fact, our friend J pulled out a can of sardine from his pocket and offered it to the three of us. We were on a quad chair-lift riding up to the peak of a ski mountain. No bread or crackers, just sardine. No one hesitated. We are baby boomers: hardy and up for everything. We shared one can of some no-name sardine on the chairlift in the dead of winter.

Undoubtedly, we got more than our daily allowance of vitamin D that day, with the help of full sun and the canned sardine. Since there was no immediate need to stop at the base for food, we had more time in the sun and more skiing. A double whammy and a good day on the mountain.

If I can package a sardine spread in a can, this recipe from David Lebovitz comes close to a perfect formula. Packed with ingredients like: cream cheese, butter, scallions, capers, lime juice, cayenne pepper, black pepper, salt, and sardine, of course, you’ll be ready to roll with a can of this spread, wherever you are.

sardine spread on a slice of sourdough country bread

Please visit Cook-the-book-fridays to see how the online group, a community of engaging home cooks and lovely people, who are working through David Lebovitz’s My Paris Kitchen, is liking this recipe.

This post is dispatched from Kyoto, Japan. Whole sardines are a common sight in the fresh fish cases in markets in Japan. I cannot think of any fish that is cheaper than sardines in Japan. A pack of 6-10 costs as low as 100 yen (1 US dollar). Inexpensive and so good for you, served fresh, grilled or canned.

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16 Comments

  • Reply
    Mary Hirsch
    September 30, 2016 at 10:46 pm

    You make a pretty good case for the Vitamin-D packed sardine. Liked how you served it and if I could grow more accustomed to eating and enjoying the sardine taste, this would be a fantastic meal when I am hiking and patrolling. I made the spread – my two girlfriends loved it and I supported their enthusiasm by trying it myself. I will probably make it again because I know it is healthy and filling. Nice post.

  • Reply
    EmilyC
    October 1, 2016 at 4:14 am

    I liked that you re-packed the finished product into their original packaging! Awesome presentation! I liked!

  • Reply
    EmilyC
    October 1, 2016 at 4:14 am

    I liked that you re-packed the finished product into their original packaging! Awesome presentation! I liked!

  • Reply
    Natascha Beutner
    October 1, 2016 at 8:12 am

    This was delicious and I liked your presentation too!

  • Reply
    Natascha Beutner
    October 1, 2016 at 8:12 am

    This was delicious and I liked your presentation too!

  • Reply
    Nana
    October 1, 2016 at 1:59 pm

    Your photos are great, serving it up in the original tin was a wonderful idea. This was such an easy recipe, and turned out so
    delicious.

  • Reply
    KB from Prof Who Cooks
    October 1, 2016 at 2:03 pm

    What a great serving suggestion! I really like that presentation and am going to keep that in mind! All there reasons you list for eating sardines, plus the calcium from the bones(!), is why I finally tried sardines for the first time a few years ago. I've been eating them since, but never just on their own…Such a perfect food and very sustainable, too!

  • Reply
    Mardi Michels
    October 2, 2016 at 12:11 am

    Look so cute in the little tin!

  • Reply
    Teresa
    October 2, 2016 at 1:39 am

    I love your presentation! I enjoy sardines, especially in a spread like this. And I love friends who always have energy-rich food available on outdoor adventures. Who needs a lunch break when you're out having fun? Enjoy your time in Japan!

  • Reply
    flour.ish.en
    October 2, 2016 at 9:23 pm

    I like sardines more than the taste of it. My head is telling me they are good for me, although canned sardines often smell so strong especially when opening the lid.

  • Reply
    flour.ish.en
    October 2, 2016 at 9:25 pm

    Totally unplanned. But I like the look of the sardine spread in their original tins.

  • Reply
    flour.ish.en
    October 2, 2016 at 9:29 pm

    Thank you, Teresa. I enjoyed all the sushi and sashimi here. Fresh sardines too, no doubt.

  • Reply
    flour.ish.en
    October 2, 2016 at 9:34 pm

    Oh, I forgot the calcium part. Given sardines' nutritional value, I should get more of them.

  • Reply
    kitchen flavours
    October 3, 2016 at 1:22 pm

    This is delicious and I agree with you that this comes close to perfect formula! Hope you are having a great time in Japan!

  • Reply
    Betsy
    October 4, 2016 at 1:37 am

    Nice post! I especially like how you repacked the rillettes back into the can. So clever!

  • Reply
    lisa brown
    October 9, 2016 at 8:17 am

    So true about the sardines being easy to carry. I remember one friend brought them on a hiking trip in Havasupai. I of course, carried the wine. Your spread looks great and I love the idea of using the can.

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