Baked Sardines Recipe
Sardines are inexpensive fish you can find in almost any market in Singapore. (When in doubt, go to Tekka Market). Not only are they rich in omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D, they are also a great source of CoQ10!
This means that sardines are great for the skin and brain, have powerful anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, and can play an important role in improving the longevity and health span of your pets.
Here's our recipe for Baked Sardines! They make a great topper for dry food, or a good meal on its own, together with some hardboiled eggs :)
Ingredients
Fresh Sardines
Apple Cider Vinegar
Olive Oil (or coconut oil)
Lemon
Fresh herbs (optional)
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 200 degrees celsius.
Rinse the sardines at least twice to get rid of any blood or excess sea salt; you may also choose to soak them for a bit in water with a splash of apple cider vinegar to help get rid of the fishy smell.
Oil your baking dish. Place fish in dish so that they are all touching the base. Do not crowd the baking dish.
Add sliced lemons and/or fresh herbs (thyme, rosemary, dill are all great!) to the baking dish. Drizzle with a touch more oil.
Bake in oven for 20 mins.
Take out and serve with some hardboiled eggs for the extra omega kick!
Notes on the ingredients/recipe:
We prefer small fish (think anchovies and sardines) to larger ones (such as tuna or salmon) because they've had less time to accrue harmful heavy metals and pollution. They are also less likely to be tampered with at the market, and are just as nutritious and delicious for dogs (and hoomans!)
When cooked properly, sardine bones can be given together with the whole fish, as they are sufficiently soft and small. However, if you are uncomfortable with this, you can easily fillet the fish, or mash everything (bones included) up in a food processor before serving.
Sardines are naturally oily (with healthy fats!) so how much fat you add prior to baking is really up to you. If your dog is sensitive to oil, just brush the fish with a little coconut or olive oil to help make sure it doesn't burn before baking.