Sardine Marinades

Preparation

1. Remove the head and entrails of the sardines, ensuring to eliminate all the viscera.
2. Rinse the sardines under cold running water and let them drain well in a colander for a few minutes.
3. Separate the central bone from the sardine loins and cut them into fillets, ensuring that no small bones remain.
4. In a bowl, prepare a brine by mixing cold water with 10-12% salt. Stir until the salt is completely dissolved.
5. Submerge the sardine fillets in the brine and let them sit for 5 minutes to absorb the salty flavor.
6. Remove the sardines from the brine and marinate them in white wine vinegar for 30 minutes, ensuring that all pieces are covered.
7. Remove the fillets from the vinegar and place them on a plate to prepare for serving.
8. Drizzle the fillets with a splash of extra virgin olive oil to give them a smooth, silky touch of flavor.
9. Serve the fillets accompanied by ripe tomato diced into small cubes, chopped chives, and spring onion finely julienned. If you prefer, soak the spring onion in cold water for a few minutes to make it milder and shinier, and add a pinch of freshly ground pepper.