Affordable Sardine Towers

Steps

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1. 1
   Lightly roast the tomatoes, onion, and garlic cloves on a griddle until slightly softened.
   ▶ ≈0:38
2. 2
   Remove seeds from the guajillo and pulla chiles, toast them briefly on the griddle, then soak them in water until softened.
   ▶ ≈0:38
3. 3
   Chop the fresh parsley into small pieces.
   ▶ ≈1:49
4. 4
   Carefully remove all small bones from the sardines and break them apart.
   ▶ ≈1:49
5. 5
   In a bowl, combine the sardines, ground oats, half the parsley, breadcrumbs, eggs, sardine broth, and salt to make a filling mixture.
   ▶ ≈3:05
6. 6
   Mix the filling thoroughly by hand until well combined, then form into evenly-sized balls.
   ▶ ≈4:17
7. 7
   Heat oil in a pan and fry the sardine balls until golden brown on all sides, then remove and drain.
   ▶ ≈4:29
8. 8
   Blend the roasted chiles, tomatoes, onion, and garlic together with their soaking water until smooth to create the sauce.
   ▶ ≈5:08
9. 9
   Pour the sauce into hot oil, add salt to taste, and simmer until the sauce thickens and develops full flavor.
   ▶ ≈5:34
10. 10
    Serve the fried sardine balls with the sauce either mixed together or drizzled on top, accompanied by white rice and tortillas.
    ▶ ≈6:03