Cornish Sardines

Cornish Sardines is a traditional blue fish from the United Kingdom. Key ingredients include olive.

Fishing for sardines off the Cornish coast has been a cornerstone of local life for centuries, with the precise origins of the trade lost to early records. The fish, locally known as pilchards when larger, were historically processed with salt and pressed, with lookouts called "huers" guiding boats from cliff tops. This industry flourished in fishing villages like Newlyn and St Ives, deeply shaping the region's maritime economy and identity.

Regionally, the same fish is called a sardine when young and smaller, while larger ones are termed pilchards, though both are cooked simply—often grilled or baked with olive oil. Culturally, Cornish sardines are celebrated in local festivals and appear in traditional dishes like stargazy pie, where whole fish poke through the crust. The industry declined in the 20th century but has seen a revival through sustainable fishing, cementing the fish as a proud symbol of Cornwall's coastal heritage.