Portuguese grilled sardines with lemon

For the grilled sardines, first clean the whole fresh fish. Remove the innards, rinse them under cold water and pat dry with paper towel. Do not remove the scales, they protect the flesh while grilling. Chop the garlic finely and chop the parsley. The fish should be truly fresh, you can tell by clear eyes and a firm body.

In a bowl, mix the olive oil with garlic, salt and pepper. Rub the fish with this mixture inside and out. Let them sit for 15 minutes at room temperature.

Heat the grill to high, ideally over charcoal for real flavor. Oil the grate. Grill them for 3 to 4 minutes per side, until the skin lightly blisters and the flesh turns opaque. Do not turn them too soon, they release from the grate on their own.

Transfer the finished fish to a plate and immediately drizzle with lemon juice. Sprinkle with chopped parsley and serve with lemon slices and fresh bread. A glass of chilled white wine goes well with them.