Few weeks ago my wife bought 2 lb of sardines , with the idea that i will grill them . Good idea but did not work out due to work .
Two days later i got home late and i had no choices i had to do something with them or they will go to the bin (i hate throwing food ).
I decided to treat them like anchovies . I put them in a bag with sea salt put salt in also in the gills .
I left it in the fridge for 8 days(every day turning the bag ).
After 8 days i washed and fillet the fish .
After few time that i washed them i poured boiling water over them , this helps removing the silver skin of the fish .
Pat them dry and put them in a container with olive oil .
You can eat them immediately but they will be better in a week or two .
Great on crostini with cream cheese or in cooking like a good marinara sauce , instead of adding salt but with a twist (when you fry the onion and the garlic to start a dish you add to the frying pan the salted sardine only a small piece ) it will add another dimension to the dish(without the taste of fish).
Just pour the hot water don't leave it in the water .
rub the skin slightly under running water .
It is worth the time and effort ,that if you like fish of course.