Best Sardine Pie

Bursting with flavor, this Sardine Pie features a savory parmesan dough crust filled with a rich tomato-based sauce loaded with sardines, onions, garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, fresh cilantro, and olives for a harmonious blend of tastes and textures.

This easy Sardine Pie can be eaten alone, as a snack or appetizer, or alongside this Brazilian Cheese Bread, or Pinto Beans. You can also serve the pie with a salads for a light lunch or dinner; Quinoa Beet and Arugula Salad, Roasted Vegetable Salad With Ginger Rosemary Dressing, or this Autumn Kale Sweet Potato and Bean Salad.

Sardine Pie or in Portuguese “Empanada de Sardinha” is as a snack or a popular dish that can be served as a side dish, snack or appetizer, and it can be eaten hot or cold. Heated in the microwave it’s a tasty option for a quick meal or snack.

Brazilian sardine pie typically includes a sauce with sardines, tomatoes, onions, and other seasonings or vegetables in a pastry crust. The pie reflects the influence of Portuguese cuisine, due to historical ties between the two countries.

Sardine pie is enjoyed in various forms throughout Brazil, and it has become a part of the country’s diverse culinary landscape. Each region of the country has its own way of preparing this delicious recipe.

Why You’ll Love This Dish With Sardines

Hearty: Filled with nutritious sardines, this pie is satisfying and nourishing. You can use 1 to 2 cans of sardine for a milder or stronger flavor.

Versatile: Change up the vegetables, use a different cheese, try different herbs, make it your own. Some parts of Brazil use canned corn and peas in the sauce.

Nostalgic: If you’re Brazilian, this sardine pie will bring back memories.

Healthy: Sardines are one of the best sources of omega-3 fatty acids, which we need to eat to stay healthy, since our bodies cannot make them. This recipe using sardines allows you to easily incorporate this healthy fish into your diets.

Health Benefits of Sardines

Dishes with sardines can be reap with health benefits. Loaded with protein, Vitamin D, and calcium, sardines make a great addition to any diet. Sardines are also a good source of omega 3 fatty acids as well as vitamin B12. For more information about how nutritious sardines are, see this article.

Thanks to their many important nutrients, including beneficial omega-3 fats, sardines are a nutritious type of fish and that’s also shelf stable and budget friendly.

Ingredients

SARDINE PIE DOUGH

• Flour – All purpose flour is used to make the dough.
• Milk – Any type of milk can be used in this dough recipe.
• Olive oil – Extra virgin olive oil, vegetable or canola oil will work.
• Eggs – eggs will help bind the dough for this sardine pie.
• Parmesan cheese – Parmesan cheese adds some saltiness and flavor to the crust.
• Baking powder – A touch of baking powder helps the dough rise.
• Salt – A pinch of salt to enhance the flavor.

SARDINE PIE SAUCE

• Tomato sauce – Tomato sauce is used as the base for the sauce.
• Sun dried tomato – Sundried tomatoes add depth of flavor and texture to the sauce.
• Sardines – Sardines are the hero of this pie. Use canned sardines, drained.
• Onion – Any type of onion, diced, is good.
• Garlic – Fresh minced garlic is best but jarred will also work.
• Tomato – Any kind of fresh tomato, diced, adds texture to the sauce.
• Green pepper – Chopped green pepper adds more flavor and texture.
• Salt and pepper – Add salt and pepper to taste.
• Fresh cilantro -Fresh cilantro complements the flavors of the pie. If you don’t like cilantro you can use parsley.
• Olives – Use a combination of black and green olives to top the pie.

How To Make the Sauce For The Sardine Pie

Step 1: Sauté onion and garlic in hot oil until fragrant and then add the diced tomato and green pepper. Cook until all the vegetables have softened.

Step 2: Stir in sun-dried tomato and tomato sauce and let the sauce simmer for a couple of minutes.

Step 3: Add drained sardines and mash with a fork or spoon to break them down.

Step 4: Season with salt and pepper, add a handful of cilantro and lower the heat. Let the sauce simmer while you work on the dough.

How To Make The Dough

Step 1: Add the wet ingredients; milk, eggs, and oil to a blender, and then add the dry ingredients; flour, baking powder, parmesan cheese, and salt.

Step 2: Blend until the dough is smooth, being mindful not to overwork the dough.

Step 3: Coat a pie plate with oil or butter and then sprinkle with a touch of flour so the crust doesn’t stick. Pour the dough into the pie dish.

Step 4: Top the pie with the sardine sauce and then add the olives and a pinch of parmesan cheese.

Step 5: Bake the pie at 350F degrees for 35 minutes. The crust will start to detach from the pie dish, you can also insert a fork to make sure the dough is cooked through.

Step 6: Serve warm or cold. Keep leftover pie refrigerated for up to 5 days.

Tips and Variations

• Change up the veggies. Use corn or peas, frozen or canned, are popular add-ins.
• Use tomato paste. If you don’t have sundried tomatoes on hand, you can use tomato paste.
• Try crushed tomatoes. If you don’t have tomato sauce in the pantry you can use crushed tomatoes or process a can of diced tomatoes until you get a smooth sauce.
• Grease and flour the pie plate. Oil and flour the pie plate well so the dough doesn’t stick. Brazilians prefer to use butter but oil or oil spray will also work.

FAQs

Make Ahead and Storage

Make ahead: If you are looking to get a head start on your meal prep, this sardine pie is a good option.

Storage: Store leftover pie in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. You can also freeze leftovers for up to 3 months.

Thaw: Dishes with sardines can be thawed overnight in the fridge. Eat straight from the fridge or heat in the oven.

Looking for more Brazilian recipes?

• Beef Stew
• Instant Pot Brazilian Black Bean Soup
• Braised Chicken and Potatoes
• Creamy Brazilian Hot Cocoa
• Brazilian Lemonade