30-Second Smoked Sardine & Almonds Tapas
This 30-Second Andaluz Tapas is the ultimate no-cook Spanish appetizer. Made with premium smoked sardine fillets, toasted almonds and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil, it literally takes seconds to assemble and tastes like something much more elaborate.
Ingredients
- 100 g (3.5 oz) Smoked sardine fillets
- 1 tsp Extra virgin olive oil hojiblanca or arbequina
- 50 g (1.75 oz) Toasted almonds
Instructions
Step 1: Arrange the sardines
- Remove the smoked sardine fillets from their packaging and carefully arrange them on a small serving plate or tapas platter. Allow any excess oil to drain slightly first.
Step 2: Add the olive oil
- Drizzle approximately one teaspoon of extra virgin olive oil over the sardine fillets.
Step 3: Add the toasted almonds
- Place a small handful of toasted almonds alongside the sardines. You can leave the almonds whole for maximum crunch, or roughly chop them if you’d prefer to scatter them over the top.
Step 4: Serve
- It's ready to serve! If you want a more substantial tapa, serve the sardines, oil, and almonds over slices of baguette. You can hold it all together with a toothpick or cocktail skewer.
Notes
Use good-quality sardines
This recipe relies heavily on the quality of the main ingredient. Choose thick, intact smoked sardine fillets with a pleasant smoky aroma and a firm texture.Don’t drown the sardines in olive oil
A light drizzle is all you need. Too much oil can make the tapa feel heavy and mask the smoky flavor of the fish.Toast the almonds yourself
If you have a few extra minutes, lightly toasting raw almonds will give you an even better result. Place the almonds in a dry frying pan over medium-low heat and toast them for a few minutes, stirring regularly. Remove them as soon as they become fragrant and lightly golden. Allow them to cool before serving.Serve at room temperature
There’s no need to refrigerate the assembled tapa immediately before serving. Allowing the sardines to come to room temperature for a short while can make their flavor more pronounced.Easy Variations
Although the traditional simplicity is part of the appeal, there are several ways you can put your own spin on this Spanish sardine tapas recipe.- Add lemon: A few drops of fresh lemon juice can brighten the rich sardines.
- Add fresh herbs: A little chopped parsley works particularly well and adds freshness and color.
- Try Marcona almonds: For a more luxurious tapa, swap regular almonds for native Spanish Marcona almonds, which have a more intense flavor.
- Add crusty bread: Serve the sardines on small slices of toasted baguette or rustic Spanish bread for a more substantial pintxo-style appetizer.
- Add a little heat: A tiny pinch of smoked paprika or a few flakes of chili can add gentle warmth.
- Add tomato: A thin slice of ripe tomato underneath the sardine creates a delicious Mediterranean combination.