Savory Tomato Sardine Fish Recipe

Ingredients

• 500 grams fresh fish (such as salem or tongkol), cleaned and cut into pieces
• 2 tablespoons lime juice
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 5 tablespoons canned tomato sauce
• 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• 1-2 tablespoons margarine
• Water, as needed

For the Sauce:

• 3 large tomatoes, roughly sliced
• 3 large red chili peppers (seeded and sliced), or curly chili peppers
• 2 teaspoons salt, or to taste
• 2 teaspoons sugar, or to taste
• 150 ml water

Steps:

1. Marinate the fish with lime juice and salt. Let it sit for 15 minutes, then rinse thoroughly. Fry the fish until half-cooked. Set aside.

2. Blend together the ingredients for the sauce (tomatoes, chili peppers, salt, sugar, and water). Set aside.

3. In a pan, sauté the chopped garlic until fragrant. Add the blended sauce mixture and canned tomato sauce. Add the half-cooked fish. Pour in enough water to cover the ingredients.

4. Cook until the sauce reduces and thickens. Add margarine and stir until melted and well combined.

5. Serve hot and enjoy!

Notes

• Be careful not to cut the fish into pieces that are too small to avoid them breaking apart during cooking.
• Stir the mixture frequently to prevent burning, especially at the bottom of the pan.
• Start with 1 tablespoon of margarine; you can add more if needed for a richer flavor.
• You can use different types of fish like pindang tongkol or cuwe for variation.

This homemade sardine fish recipe (Ikan Sarden) offers a delightful blend of flavors with its tangy tomato sauce and tender fish, perfect for a comforting meal at home.