Recipe: Fried sardines with Santorini Sauce

If the sardines are fresh it is advised you eat the whole fish (including the head).

INGREDIENTS
• Plain flour, to dust
• 6 whole sardines, cleaned, gutted
• Extra virgin olive oil, to shallow-fry
• Chopped flat-leaf parsley and lemon wedges, to serve

FOR THE SANTORINI SAUCE
• 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• ½ red onion, finely chopped
• 1 clove garlic, crushed
• 60 ml (¼ cup) sweet white wine
• 75 g (¼ cup) baby capers, drained
• 2 large tomatoes, finely chopped
• 2 bay leaves

DIRECTIONS
1. To make the sauce, heat oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Add onion and garlic, and cook for 5 minutes or until soft. Add wine, capers, tomatoes and bay leaves, and season with salt and pepper. Simmer, stirring occasionally, over low heat for 15 minutes or until thickened.

2. Meanwhile, place flour in a shallow bowl and season. Dip sardines in flour mixture, shaking off excess.

3. Place enough oil in a large frying pan to coat the base of the pan and heat over medium heat. Fry sardines for 3 minutes each side or until golden and just cooked.

4. Drain sardines on paper towel then transfer to a plate. Spoon over Santorini sauce, scatter with parsley and serve with lemon wedges.