Recipes Fresh Sardines on Grilled Bread 5.0 (4,699) 1 Review Grilled the Portuguese way with olive oil and coarse salt, these sardines are delectable. They're served on thick slices of toasted country bread that soften slightly and gain flavor as the sardine juices soak in. You'll be surprised how easy it is to fillet the sardines at the table; the meat virtually separates itself from the spine and bones.Plus: More Grilling Recipes and Tips By Food & Wine Editors Updated on June 15, 2016 Print Rate It Share Share Tweet Pin Email Photo: © Melanie Acevedo Yield: 4 Ingredients 4 3/4-inch-thick slices bread, from a large country loaf 6 tablespoons olive oil 1/4 teaspoon table salt 16 large sardines, cleaned (about 2 pounds in all) 1 tablespoon coarse salt Directions Light the grill or heat the broiler. Using 4 1/2 tablespoons of the oil, brush both sides of each slice of bread. Sprinkle both sides with the table salt. Grill or broil the bread, turning once, until crisp and golden on the surface but still soft inside, about 4 minutes in all. Rub the sardines all over with the remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons oil and sprinkle with the coarse salt. Grill or broil the sardines for 4 minutes. Turn and cook until golden brown and just done, about 3 minutes. To serve, top each piece of grilled bread with 4 sardines. Notes Fish Alternatives Sweeter than sardines, smelts are an ideal alternative here. They're usually smaller, so cook them a little less. Suggested Pairing The saltiness of the sardines and the rusticity of this dish are perfect with a very cold bottle of unassuming and refreshing Vinho Verde from Portugal. Many Vinho Verdes are nonvintage, but if those available to you are dated, choose as young a bottle as possible. Rate it Print