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Tazukuri (candied baby sardines)
Crisp toasted baby sardines in a sticky soy, sugar and sesame glaze
Tazukuri means 'making rice paddies': in old Japan small sardines were spread on fields as fertiliser, and these glazed little fish became a New Year wish for a rich harvest; they are one of the three essential osechi nibbles with black beans and herring roe. Toasted dry until they snap, then tossed in a sweet-salty glaze, they are crunchy, savoury and moreish, with a nutty sesame finish. The glaze includes mirin, a sweet rice wine; for no alcohol use 1 tbsp water and 1 extra tsp sugar. Serve a small heap in the osechi box, with green tea, or over hot rice. Chef's tip: toast slowly until one fish snaps cleanly in half; chewy sardines never turn crisp later.
- Total time
- 20 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 6
Ingredients
- 1 ⅜ oz dried baby sardines (gomame / tazukuri)broken or bent ones picked out
- 1 tbsp white sesame seeds
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 1 tbsp mirinor 1 tbsp water + 1 tsp sugar for no alcohol
- 1 tsp honey
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Toast 1 ⅜ oz dried baby sardines (gomame / tazukuri) in a dry frying pan over low heat, shaking often, for 8–10 minutes, until they are lightly golden, smell toasty and one snaps cleanly when you break it. Tip them onto a sieve and shake off the dust.
10 minStep 2: Toast 1 tbsp white sesame seeds in the same pan for 1 minute until it starts to pop, then add to the sardines. Line a tray with baking paper.
1 minStep 4: Take the pan off the heat, tip in the sardines and sesame and toss quickly until every fish is coated. Common mistake: cooking the fish in the glaze; keep it off the heat or the sugar sets hard and clumps.
1 minStep 5: Spread out on the tray in a thin layer, separating clumps with chopsticks, and leave to cool and crisp for 10 minutes. Store in an airtight box in the fridge for up to a week.
1 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 60 kcal
- Protein
- 6 g
- Carbs
- 5 g
- Fat
- 2 g
- Fibre
- 0 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does tazukuri (candied baby sardines) take?
- About 20 minutes in total: 5 minutes to prepare and 15 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 6 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Can I make it ahead?
- Yes. It keeps well, so you can cook it earlier in the day or the day before and reheat it.
- What can I use instead of white sesame seeds?
- Poppy seeds or finely chopped pumpkin seeds, same amount.
- What can I use instead of soy sauce?
- Tamari, same amount (gluten free).
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