While tinned fish is definitely having a moment, the fact remains that we have long known how delicious, nutritious and versatile tinned fish can be. Tuna, salmon, mackerel, and anchovies are all fantastic tinned options, but there is one small and mighty fish that we particularly adore – the sardine.

Sardines are abundant in our oceans and provide an excellent way to eat lower on the food chain. Wild Planet sardines are meaty, mild, and tender, making them a great addition to many recipes. Not to mention they’re also high in protein and EPA and DHA omega-3s.

Therefore, with the continued popularity of canned sardines, we put together a collection of globally inspired dishes from Asian, European and Western food culture. The next time you hear someone inquire how to eat sardines, you can proudly share this list with them and be their culinary superhero.

20 Canned Sardine Recipes Inspired By Food Culture

Be sure to scroll below the full list in order to find the mouth-watering imagery and direct links to all of these recipes and remember to bookmark your favorites!

1. Spicy gochujang, soy sauce, fresh lime juice and fried eggs pair perfectly with sardines atop brown rice for a quick and nutritious meal
2. Try braising sardines in a fragrant and savory Korean sauce made with gochugaru chili powder, gochujang, fresh garlic, ginger and sauté with daikon radishes, onions and carrots
3. This Filipino adobo-style braise featuring apple cider vinegar, garlic and soy sauce is sautéed with sardines and hard-boiled quail eggs offering a rich taste to gratify your taste buds
4. This rice bowl delivers enticing and unique umami flavors on top of the richness of the sardines, Kimchi (salted and fermented veggies including cabbage), red pepper flakes, sesame seeds, paprika and a delicately fried egg
5. These lettuce wrapped sardine tacos showcase nutritional and flavor-packed sardines with Asian slaw and a sweet and spicy gochujang glaze, great for appetizers or a main dish
6. Pan-fried sardine balls made with ginger and garlic chili paste in a sweet brown sauce and served with fresh zoodles
7. Satisfy your appetite with this super easy grilled Italian sandwich made with mozzarella cheese, tomatoes, fresh basil and protein-rich sardines
8. Made with dinosaur (or Tuscan) kale, fresh croutons and sardines, this take on a Caesar salad will be so sure to please that you may never go back to the traditional version
9. This salad bowl made with sardines and farro includes familiar Mediterranean ingredients like tomatoes, cucumbers, Kalamata olives and is tossed in a lemon feta dressing
10. When you slice and serve this simple yet scrumptious French-inspired pizza made with sardines and caramelized onions, you'll find yourself going back for seconds
11. Try this exquisite Italian dish, typically made with pasta and anchovies, but swapped with spiralized zucchini and tasty sardines instead
12. This Tuscan-style pasta dish made with sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, spinach, red chili flakes and Parmesan cheese has a nutrient-packed twist from the addition of sardines
13. Featured in Amazon Lifestyle, this adaptation of a classic Italian pasta dish with ingredients including fennel, white wine, raisins, pine nuts and meaty sardines will certainly not disappoint
14. Sardines, pasta, hearty kale, fresh dill, and garlic combine for this incredibly quick and satisfying meal which is sure to become a household favorite
15. If you're craving a Reuben sandwich but looking for an alternative option to corned beef, try making one with sardines just like Wild Planet's Founder, Bill Carvalho, makes his
16. Substitute your typical tuna melt with this decadent version made with sardines, cream cheese, fresh dill, lemon juice, capers and diced shallot
17. If you love crab cakes then you'll definitely enjoy this adaptation made with meaty sardines and served alongside a creamy dip with a kick
18. Bring a smile to your face in the morning with this popular dish, packed with a protein punch of highly nutritious sardines and eggs 
19. Some say that bacon makes everything taste better, but this breakfast taco may just blow you away with the addition of delectable sardines
20. With only a handful of ingredients and just a few steps, savor these flavorful and crispy sardines over a bed of peppery arugula and spinach

Asian inspired food cultures: Chinese, Thai, Japanese and Indian

Sardines in Gochujang Sauce	Korean Braised Sardines
Adobong Sardines	Sardine Rice Bowl
Asian-Inspired Sardine Tacos	Ginger Sardine Balls Over Asian Zucchini Noodles

European inspired food cultures: Greek, Spanish, French, Italian

Western inspired food culture: American (a diverse mix formed from a melting pot of cuisines)

For additional canned sardine recipes, check out another one of our most popular blog articles, 20 Ways to Eat a Sardine. And if you’re interested in more food culture recipe lists, visit our canned tuna collection.