Ever had one of these fishy guys on the braai before? ‘Braai little fish over very hot coals, very quickly,’ says Ron Pocock, owner of Freshline Fisheries in Knysna. ‘The bones are small and soft enough to eat – and full of calcium!’ And what makes these braaied sardines even better? They are an eco-friendly option!

SERVES 4 // COOKING TIME 20 min

INGREDIENTS
8 fresh sardines, cleaned
¼ cup olive oil
Salt and pepper
2 tbsp chopped parsley
1 clove garlic, peeled and crushed
Zest and juice of 1 lemon, plus extra wedges to garnish

METHOD
1. Get your braai going.
2. Brush the sardines with 1 tbsp of the oil and season.
3. In a small bowl, mix together the parsley, garlic, juice of ½ a lemon and remaining olive oil. Season.
4. Braai the sardines over high heat for 15 minutes, turning them frequently, until the skin is crisp and the flesh is cooked through.
5. Spoon some of the parsley mixture over the sardines. Serve with the rest of the mixture on the side. Garnish with lemon wedges and zest.