This sardine rice bowl with an egg on top features canned sardines in tomato sauce. It’s quick, nutritious and budget-friendly!
Sardine Rice Bowl
This is what I call my poor man dinner. A “what can I make with what I have?” recipe.
But budget food doesn’t have to be bland!
This dish can be thrown together quickly and requires very little cooking.
Do you like sardines? Don’t knock ’em till you’ve tried ’em! They’re actually really tasty and so healthy in vitamins B and omega-3’s.
This is a step up from the classic sardines and crackers with hot sauce, but mainly because I didn’t have any crackers haha.
All you need is a few ingredients and there are easy substitutes if you don’t have these things:
Canned sardines in tomato sauce. You can also substitute plain sardines and an 8-ounce can of tomato sauce.
Cooked rice. You could also use quinoa or couscous – or forego the carbs altogether.
Eggs cooked any way you like, but preferably with a runny yolk!
Red pepper flakes for spice. I love collecting different kinds like aleppo chile or gochugaru (Korean hot pepper), but cayenne pepper gets the job done just fine. Hot sauce works too!
One last thing to make this sardine rice bowl really special: Slice 1 onion and saute in oil until softened. Add sardines and proceed with recipe.
I’d also love if you share your favorite canned sardine recipes in the comments below!
Pin this to your dinner board!
This quick and easy rice bowl topped with tomato marinated sardines and an egg makes a tasty protein packed meal.
Sardine Rice Bowl
Ingredients
Instructions
Tyrone Knight says
My go to is a ramen noodle bowl, I add some olive oil and garlic powder to the cooked noodles, top with sardines in olive oil and chilies, add some more garlic powder, micro wave the bowl, add some grated parmesan and romano cheese to the heated mixture. YUM! I think I am making tonight and will try adding the egg!
Rebekah says
Wow that sounds amazing! Do you use the ramen seasoning packet too?
Jackie Dean says
I tweaked it a little for what I had on hand. Sardines in hot sauce, caldo de Tomate and instant grits. Delicious! Thanks for inspiration!
Luke says
I saw this at 10:30pm and ran into my kitchen, this recipe set my imagination alight, these were some of the changes I made.
Add hoisin, it takes this dish to another level.
I didn’t have the tomato sardines but I did have the olive oil sardines, I ended up using some tomato paste which worked fine as a replacement.
The tomato part really brings the dish together.
But I think a can of tomatoes is excessive, liquid wise.
I also like slicing the onion length ways into thin strands and frying, for more texture.
For the egg component I like to make Tamagoyaki; aswel as the slow-fried sunny side up egg.
Immature green pumpkin goes well with this dish, if you have it laying around, zucchini would work nicely too.
Fresh chillies!.
Rebekah says
I love what you’ve done with the dish!
Luke says
It’s a lovely recipe, thanks for the inspiration 🙂
Julie McMillina says
Looks Delish!! Got a couple cans in my cupboard and been wondering what the heck to do with them. All the nutritionists rave about how good these are for you too – YUM! Thank You!!!
Jerry Highsmith says
Never had with an egg… I have had with rice an it is nice
Jim H says
I’ll add an egg tomorrow. (This is the plan for supper. I just jumped online got more ideas.
You asked for recipe ideas, so:
I soften cream cheese, add a little minced onion and whatever else sounds good. Horseradish, mustard, garlic, black pepper, minced anchovies (not all of those). Then stir in a can or two of plain or oil sardines. (Or canned mackerel). I usually like to add some cream to soften th he mixture a little.
I spread it on wasa crisps, add a bit of sweet onion and drizzle with sriracha (Ifor this, I prefer it to Frank’s or Tobasco)
Frantz Merisier says
this is an awesome “go to” dish, especially for when you’re on a budget. I have to say you totally elevated the game by adding an egg…I am so excited to go home and try it with an egg…I freaking LOVE sardines!!
Thank You! ☺
Rebekah says
Thanks so much! There aren’t enough sardine lovers out there! 🙂
Maggie the Magster says
I’m sold! Looks like a great recipe for a girl without a kitchen!
Sean says
Interesting recipe, can the sardines go right in the microwave with the rice? I thought you had to cook them more first
Rebekah says
They sure can! (I had fresh rice so it was already warm.) Canned sardines are already cooked so you only need to warm them for this recipe. Sometimes I cook them up in a pan with garlic and onions for extra pizzazz!
Esther Medina says
I love sardines. I am making this for dinner… yummy! I only have sardines in olive oil. So I will heat them in some tomato salsa.
Thank you for this great idea.
Rebekah says
Thank you, Esther! Great idea using salsa, bet it will give it a nice kick!
Rae says
I’m not usually a fan of sardines but this looks delicious! I shall have to add it to my list of recipes to try!
Rebekah | The Kitchen Gidget says
Thanks! I know sardines aren’t one of those foods everyone loves, but I think this makes them a little better 🙂
IrvinShandy says
This is what I eat when I’m on budget!
Just found out about your blog and you’ve got some nice recipe, can’t wait for your next post! 🙂
Rebekah | The Kitchen Gidget says
Thank you! It’s hard to keep up with a blog on a regular basis, but I enjoy it when I do!