This simple sardine rice bowl is one of those easy, nourishing meals that comes together quickly using pantry staples and a few fresh ingredients. It’s hearty yet light, deeply satisfying, and an excellent way to enjoy canned (or tinned!) fish in an approachable, modern way.
Be sure to read through this recipe post for simple tips, easy substitutions, ideas to make this bowl your own, and the printable recipe.
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Table of Contents
- A Quick Glance: A Simple Sardine Rice Bowl
- Why This Simple Bowl Works So Well
- Sardine Rice Bowl Ingredients
- How To Make A Simple Sardine Rice Bowl
- Variations
- Recipe Tips
- More Fish Recipes
- The Modern Pioneer Cookbook
- The Modern Pioneer Pantry
- Download Your Free 36-Page Pantry List
- Join the Traditional Foods Kitchen Academy
- Kitchen Academy Videos
- A Simple Sardine Rice Bowl with Charred Broccoli and Kimchi Recipe
- Shop for My Favorite Items
A Quick Glance: A Simple Sardine Rice Bowl
This quick sardine rice bowl pairs warm grain, charred broccoli, and tangy kimchi for a nourishing pantry meal in 15 minutes.
Why This Simple Bowl Works So Well
This recipe brings together everything I love in a weeknight meal:
- Pantry staples
- A balance of protein, vegetables, and grains
- Bold but comforting flavors
The warm rice, slightly charred broccoli, savory sardines, and tangy kimchi all work together beautifully, while a sprinkle of sesame seeds and a little naturally fermented soy sauce tie everything together.
Sardine Rice Bowl Ingredients
Find the full printable recipe with ingredients below.
This recipe is one of those meals that proves simple food can still be deeply nourishing and satisfying. With just a few ingredients, you can turn pantry staples into something truly special.
- 1 cup cooked rice or other favorite grain (white rice, brown rice, or any whole grain)
- 1 cup broccoli florets
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Fine-ground sea salt, to taste
- 1 tin canned sardines, drained
- Kimchi, to taste
- Sesame seeds, for sprinkling
- Naturally fermented soy sauce, for serving
A Note About the Sardines
You can use any good-quality canned sardines you enjoy for this recipe. I especially like the Fishwife brand sardines for bowls like this because they’re full of flavor, thanks to Fishwife’s special attention to the quality and freshness of the fish they select.
And thanks to the folks at Fishwife, my sweet friends can get a discount, not only on their sardines, but on all their tinned fish.
Notes
- If you prefer shopping on Amazon, here are Fishwife products you can try:
- Sardines with Hot Pepper or Preserved Lemon 1-Pack (Perfect for a taste)
- Starter Set (7-Pack Variety of Tinned Seafood including Smoked Salmon, Rainbow Trout, Sardines, Tuna & More!)
- Gift Set (5-Pack Variety with Cantabrian Anchovies, Sardines with Hot Pepper, Albacore Tuna in Spicy Olive Oil, Smoked Mackerel & Smoked Rainbow Trout)
- You may notice Fishwife uses the term tinned fish—that’s simply what many folks outside the U.S. call what we usually refer to as canned fish—different words, same delicious pantry staple.
- Looking for more savings for your traditional foods kitchen? Check out my Shopping Guide and be sure to use the discount codes that are available for many products, including seafood from Northwest Wild Foods and Vital Choice.
How To Make A Simple Sardine Rice Bowl
Find the full printable recipe with measurements below.
This simple sardine rice bowl comes together quickly using cooked rice, a tin of sardines, and a few flavorful toppings. It’s an easy, nourishing meal that’s perfect for busy days when you want something wholesome without a lot of fuss.
- Prepare the Grain:
Cook your white or brown rice, or your chosen whole grain, according to package directions and keep warm. When cooking the rice or other grains, in place of water, you can use fish bone broth or mineral-rich vegetable broth to boost the nutrition. - Char the Broccoli:
Toss the broccoli florets with olive oil and a pinch of sea salt. Sauté in a skillet over medium-high heat until tender with lightly charred edges. - Warm the Sardines (Optional):
Sardines can be used straight from the tin, but if you prefer, gently warm them in a small skillet over low heat for just a minute or two. - Assemble the Bowl:
Add the warm rice to a bowl. Top with charred broccoli, sardines, and a spoonful of kimchi. - Finish and Serve:
Sprinkle with sesame seeds and serve with naturally fermented soy sauce on the side.
Variations
This recipe is for one but can easily be doubled to feed two, or increased as much as needed—even to feed a crowd!
You can use any type of canned fish with this recipe—not just sardines. Canned mackerel is a tasty variation on this recipe and a welcome option for those who are not sardine fans.
Recipe Tips
- This bowl is very forgiving—use whatever grain you have on hand.
- Cauliflower, bok choy, or sautéed greens make excellent substitutes for broccoli.
- If you’re new to kimchi, start with a small amount and add more to taste.
- This recipe works equally well with other canned fish, such as mackerel or salmon.
More Fish Recipes
Why We Should Incorporate Mackerel Into Our Diet
Easy and nourishing ways to enjoy mackerel into your meals.
The Best Canned Sardines Recipe (So Good for You!) + A Fish Friday Marathon
Turn canned sardines into craveable meals, explore Fish Friday traditions, and enjoy a video marathon of healthy, budget-friendly seafood recipes.
Baked Salmon Recipe – How to Make the Most of Your Sheet Pan Suppers
This recipe comes together in minutes with a side of salmon and a few simple seasonal ingredients.
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Simple ingredients, timeless techniques, and a well-stocked pantry. Discover over 100 nourishing recipes to preserve food and turn pantry staples into homemade meals. Build a wholesome, traditional pantry—just like a modern pioneer!
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Kitchen Academy Videos
The Gentle Power of Fermented Beverages—All Year Long
Learn how fermented beverages gently support digestion year-round, shifting with the seasons to nourish the gut through traditional, living drinks.
How to Make Oatmeal Higher in Protein (The Old-Fashioned Way)
Turn simple oats into a hearty, protein-rich porridge.
The Only Traditional Recipes You’ll Ever Need!
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A Simple Sardine Rice Bowl with Charred Broccoli and Kimchi
Equipment
- 1 medium sauté pan
- 1 single serving bowl
Ingredients
- 1 cup Cooked rice or other favorite grain (white rice, brown rice, or any whole grain)
- 1 cup Broccoli florets
- 1 tbsp Olive oil
- Fine-ground sea salt (to taste)
- 1 tin Canned sardines, drained (approx. 4 ounce tin)
- 2 tbsp Kimchi (or to taste)
- Sesame seeds (sprinkling)
- Naturally fermented soy sauce (for serving)
Instructions
- Prepare the Grain:Cook your white or brown rice, or your chosen whole grain, according to package directions and keep warm. When cooking the rice or other grains, in place of water, you can use fish bone broth or mineral-rich vegetable broth to boost the nutrition.
- Char the Broccoli:Toss the broccoli florets with olive oil and a pinch of sea salt. Sauté in a skillet over medium-high heat until tender with lightly charred edges.
- Warm the Sardines (Optional):Sardines can be used straight from the tin, but if you prefer, gently warm them in a small skillet over low heat for just a minute or two.
- Assemble the Bowl:Add the warm rice to a bowl. Top with charred broccoli, sardines, and a spoonful of kimchi.
- Finish and Serve:Sprinkle with sesame seeds and serve with naturally fermented soy sauce on the side.
Notes
* Cauliflower, bok choy, or sautéed greens make excellent substitutes for broccoli.
* If you’re new to kimchi, start with a small amount and add more to taste.
* This recipe works equally well with other canned fish, such as mackerel or salmon. Find this recipe and video at https://marysnest.com/how-to-make-a-simple-sardine-rice-bowl/ If you’re building a traditional foods kitchen or stocking a real foods pantry, be sure to get all the books in Mary’s Modern Pioneer cookbook series, published by Penguin Random House: https://marysnest.com/modern-pioneer-cookbook-series/ Copyright © 2026 Mary’s Nest, LLC, All Rights Reserved
Shop for My Favorite Items
Favorite Sardine Rice Bowl Supplies
- Fishwife Sardines with Hot Pepper 1-Pack (Perfect for a taste)
- Fishwife Sardines with Preserved Lemon 1-Pack (Perfect for a taste)
- Fishwife Starter Set (7-Pack Variety of Tinned Seafood including Smoked Salmon, Rainbow Trout, Sardines, Tuna & More!)
- Fishwife Gift Set (5-Pack Variety with Cantabrian Anchovies, Sardines with Hot Pepper, Albacore Tuna in Spicy Olive Oil, Smoked Mackerel & Smoked Rainbow Trout)
- Ohsawa Organic Nama Shoyu (Premium, unpasteurized Japanese soy sauce)
Favorite Kitchen Supplies
- Favorite Aprons
- Spice Grinder
- Countertop Burner (On my kitchen island in many recipe videos.)
- Handheld Vacuum Sealing System
- Vacuum Lids
- Whisk
- Silica Gel Packets (Helps keep moisture from building up in your mix)
- Cast Iron Dutch Oven
- 8-Quart Slow-Cooker
- Fat Separator (Clever kitchen device to help you decant bone broth)
- Flour Sack Towels
- pH Strips (Helps you check on the acidity of your vinegar)
Amazon Shop and Shopping Guide
- Visit Mary’s Nest Amazon Shop
- Get a 30-day Audible trial with a free audiobook
- Visit my Shopping Guide page
Get up to 15% off for stocking your Traditional Foods Pantry and equipping your Modern Pioneer Kitchen, including discounts from US Wellness Meats, Farmhouse Teas, Backwoods Home, Masontops, Cultures for Health, Survival Garden Seeds, Redmond Real Salt, and More!
