Sardines on Toast is a tasty pantry meal that is not just for when you are starving and there’s nothing in the house for dinner! It can be a snack, appetizer, or a quick dinner paired with a salad. You only need a jar of good sardines, sourdough bread, tomatoes, garlic, a lemon, and olive oil.
If you’re a fan of our delicious Sardines on Toast, you’re in for a treat with our Tomato Feta Sadwich, Feta Grilled Cheese, and Tomato Feta Galette!

Why this recipe sings
Here is what you need

- Sardines — grilled or from a jar. Both versions work great.
- Bread — I love thick slices of toasted sourdough bread. Use your favorite country loaf.
- Tomato — a ripe, big, juicy one.
- Garlic and onion — the first infuses the olive oil, and the second adds crunch and bite to the recipe.
- Lemon — I usually don’t go for lemon with tomatoes, but in this instance, it suits the fish so much, like a deconstructed ladolemono.
- Extra virgin olive oil — infused with garlic, it’s delicious brushed on the toasted bread as well as drizzled all over.
- Sea salt and freshly ground pepper.
- Chili flakes — a finishing touch, optional.
- Fresh herbs — not shown above. Optional. A touch of fresh oregano leaves, chopped basil, and parsley adds freshness and color.
How to make sardines on toast

Pour ¼ cup of extra virgin olive oil into a small saucepan. Add two crushed garlic cloves and simmer on medium-high heat for three minutes. You can remove it from heat and let the olive oil infuse more with the garlic.

Brush the bread slices on both sides with the garlic-infused olive oil.

Toast the bread on both sides, on high heat in a frying pan.

Layer a couple of tomato slices on each slice of bread, and season with sea salt and freshly ground pepper. Top each slice with two sardines. They are fragile, so it’s ok if they break apart. Drizzle extra virgin olive oil, sprinkle chili flakes, and add lemon juice. Garnish with fresh oregano, basil leaves, or chopped parsley. Serve immediately.

Side dishes for sardines on toast
- Greek Tomato Salad – Horiatiki Salata.
- Roasted Cauliflower Steaks With Lemon Olive Oil And Capers.
- Chickpea fritters with tahini sause.
- Horta-Greek Greens With Olive oil and Lemon.
- Tabouli Salad-Tabbouleh.
- Marinated Olives With Feta, Lemon And Garlic.
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olive oil guide
Everything You Wanted To Know About Olive Oil
Olive oil is an essential ingredient in the Greek cuisine. Greece is one of the largest producers of olive oil in the world. Learn a bit of its history, harvest, production, and how to choose the right olive oil for your recipes.


Sardines on Toast
Ingredients
- 2 slices sourdough bread
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves smashed
- 1 large ripe tomato sliced
- 4 sardines grilled or from a jar
- ½ teaspoon chili flakes
- 1 lemon
- sea salt
- freshly ground pepper
- fresh herbs like oregano, basil or parsley
Instructions
- Pour ¼ cup of extra virgin olive oil into a small saucepan. Add two crushed garlic cloves and simmer on medium-high heat for three minutes. You can remove the saucepan from the heat and let the olive oil infuse more with the garlic.
- Brush the bread slices on both sides with the garlic-infused olive oil.Toast the bread on both sides, on high heat in a frying pan.
- Layer a couple of tomato slices on each slice of bread, and season with sea salt and freshly ground pepper. Top each slice with two sardines. They are fragile, so it's ok if they break apart.Drizzle extra virgin olive oil, sprinkle chili flakes, and add lemon juice. Garnish with fresh oregano, basil leaves, or chopped parsley (optional). Serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
