Grilled Sardines with Salad and Bread

Two whole sardines, butterflied and grilled over charcoal until the skin blisters and chars at the edges and the flesh stays moist. We dress them with garlic, fresh herbs and a generous pour of olive oil that collects on the plate. Served with a simple green salad of lettuce and red onion and a basket of bread. To drink with them, a well-chilled glass of Vinho Verde de Ponte da Barca.

Nutrition (approx., per serving, excluding bread): 480 kcal · 36 g protein · 6 g carbohydrates (3 g sugars) · 35 g fat (7 g saturated) · 2 g fibre · 1.3 g salt.

Dietary: gluten-free without the bread, dairy-free, and rich in omega-3, calcium and vitamin D. The sardines come whole, bones and all, the traditional way. Best in the summer months, when Atlantic sardines are at their fattest.