Light Bites

Mitch Tonks’ Ultimate Sardines on Toast

Mitch Tonks’ Ultimate Sardines on Toast
This is sardines on toast the Mitch Tonks way, which means you'll be using the oil from the sardine tin to make your own mayo, and using sustainably sourced and canned fish.

15 minutes prep,

Serves 2

Ingredients

1 x 140g can sardines

½ red onion, finely sliced

1 tablespoon capers, rinsed and drained

1 tablespoon finely chopped curly parsley

1 dill pickle, finely sliced

2 slices of sourdough bread

Salt and white pepper

For the mayonnaise:

1 egg yolk

1 tsp Dijon mustard

1 tbsp tomato paste

Oil from tin of sardines

Tabasco sauce (optional)

Method

Make the mayonnaise. Whisk egg yolk, dijon mustard and tomato paste. Drain the oil from a 140g can of sardines and slowly drizzle it into the yolk mixture while whisking to build up a nice thick mayonnaise. Season and add a splash of Tabasco to taste.

Put the sardines in a bowl with the onion, capers, parsley and pickle. Gently break up the fish but leave nice chunks. Season. Toast the bread, then heap the sardine mixture on top. Serve the mayo on the side.

Recipe taken from Rockfish: The Cookbook by Mitch Tonks (£18) Photography: Chris Terry
Visit website
Great British Food Awards
HOW TO ENTER

More recipes to try

Sarah Rossi’s Slow Cooker Roasted Gammon Recipe
Main Starter Light Bites
Sarah Rossi’s Slow Cooker Roasted Gammon Recipe

15 minutes

Tom Kerridge’s Grilled Goat’s Cheese Salad Recipe
Main Starter Light Bites
Tom Kerridge’s Grilled Goat’s Cheese Salad Recipe

20 minutes

Serves 2

Tom Kerridge’s Lamb Rump with Rocket Salsa Verde Recipe
Main Light Bites Lightbites
Tom Kerridge’s Lamb Rump with Rocket Salsa Verde Recipe

20 minutes

Serves 4

Tom Kerridge’s Crab Cakes Recipe
Main Starter Light Bites
Tom Kerridge’s Crab Cakes Recipe

20 minutes plus 20 minutes chilling time

Serves 12

Jamie Oliver’s Punchy Welsh Rarebit
Light Bites
Jamie Oliver’s Punchy Welsh Rarebit

7 minutes

Serves 2

Grilled Mackerel with Parsley Salsa
Light Bites
Grilled Mackerel with Parsley Salsa

25 minutes

Serves Serves 2

Great British Food Awards
2026 AWARDS OPENING SOON
Tasting videos
3 of the best biscuit and tea pairings
3 of the best biscuit and tea pairings

Treat yourself by discovering three decadent ways to match award-winning biscuits with tea

How to cook perfect crispy bacon
How to cook perfect crispy bacon

Watch this if you're fed up with soggy bacon sandwiches