Note from Ricardo
Canned sardines come packed in oil or water. If packed in oil, add the oil directly to the croquette mixture. If packed in water, drain the sardines and add 1 tbsp (15 ml) of olive oil to the croquette mixture.
You don’t have to spend hard-earned cash on gourmet goods to take meals up a notch. Patience (praises for braises!) and a few handy techniques transform the humblest of ingredients into food everyone will love. Here, canned whole tomatoes, cooked low and slow with olive oil, and tinned sardines, rebooted as crispy croquettes, enhance a white-bean salad. It’s hearty, it’s wholesome—it’s the dish you serve that elicits cries of “Peasant food is the best food!”