Stuffed sardines (sardines farcies)

Ingredients

• 2 cups cooked rice
• 1 garlic clove, chopped
• 1 French shallot, chopped
• 2 tbsp roasted crushed almonds
• ¼ cup chopped coriander, plus extra to garnish
• ½ lime, rind grated, plus 1 lime, cut into wedges, to serve
• 1 red chilli, sliced, plus extra to garnish
• pinch of salt and pepper
• 140 g (2 cups) breadcrumbs
• 3 eggs, separated
• 6 sardines, boned and butterflied
• 125 ml (½ cup) olive oil
• 2 handfuls of rocket

Instructions

Combine rice, garlic, shallot, almonds, coriander, lime rind, chilli, salt, pepper, 2 tbsp breadcrumbs and egg yolks in a mixing bowl. Using your hands, stir to combine until ingredients stick together.

On a flat plate, combine remaining breadcrumbs and coriander.

Gently squeeze 1 tbsp stuffing in your hand to firmly combine ingredients, making a tight sausage shape. Place stuffing on the inside of a sardine, then flatten so it sticks to the sardine.

Place the egg whites in a shallow bowl and whisk for 1 minute to thin out slightly. Dip sardines in egg white, then coat with the breadcrumbs and set aside. Repeat process with the remaining sardines and stuffing.

Heat ⅓ cup olive oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Cook 2 sardines at a time, belly side down, for 2 minutes. Turn and cook for another 2 minutes or until golden brown and crisp. Drain on paper towel.

Meanwhile, place rocket in a mixing bowl. Drizzle with remaining olive oil and season.

Place sardines on a serving platter with rocket leaves, extra chilli and coriander, and a wedge of lime.