I really want to tell you guys about this delightful sardine butter that I made with lemon and fresh herbs, but first I need to tell you how I happened to acquire some sardines. (Also -check out my delicious Seeded Peasant Bread in the photo, there.)
I recently signed up for a subscription service called Try The World, which sends me a box of international goodies every other month. The boxes are themed, so that everything in each comes from one country – my first box was Marrakesh (Morocco).
Lemme walk you through what it is like to get one of these boxes in the mail. You open up the cardboard cube, and inside is an adorable print and your beautiful box.
Then you open that up and inside are all of your goodies, protected by a tangle of colored paper.
It feels like Christmas to uncover and examine each item, and ponder how you will use it. My Marrakesh box contained: Dari organic whole wheat couscous, Dip&Scoop culinary argan oil, Tajini couscous sauce (good job having that label face front, Sarah), Orientines orange cookies, Villa Jerada kefta rub, and Titus sardines in oil.
Some reading material is also included. There is a product information card that gives you information on each item and the company that makes it, including little notes on whether it is organic, sustainably grown, an antique recipe, helping to support the local community, and/or created by a family business.
There is also a culture guide that includes recipes, a playlist of Moroccan songs, a list of movies, and a poem. Not to mention a number of other resources online – very cool!
I had a pretty good idea of what to do with the other items in my box (more on that to come later), but not the sardines. I actually didn’t even know they were sardines at first, I thought they were anchovies. So when I saw this post about anchovy butter pop up on Alexandra’s Kitchen, I thought – “A-ha! That’s what I can do!” I was so sad when I realized that I didn’t have anchovies, until I found out that sardine butter is also a thing. Yay!
I put butter, sardines, lemon juice, garlic, and thyme into a mini food processor and pulsed to combine. Easy as that! It was totally luscious on toasted bread, and I bet it would be fabulous with sliced radishes.
Sardine Butter
10 tbsp softened butter
1 tin of sardines, de-boned
juice of half a lemon
1 minced garlic clove
1 tbsp minced herbs (I used thyme, but there are many good options)
pinch salt and pepper
Place ingredients in a food processor and pulse to combine. Or mash thoroughly with a fork. Store in the refrigerator.
Other things you could add in – a small shallot, chives, lemon zest, make it your own!
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These boxes look delish!! Sardines are such a treasure. World food ftw!