Looking for an elegant low-carb, gluten-free appetizer? Try these Hazelnut Sardines Rillettes — a classic French-style fish spread that’s quick to prepare and can be made ahead.
I prefer savory bites to sweets, and rillettes are near the top of my list. Whether made with meat or fish, rillettes are elegant, simple, and perfect for preparing ahead of time for a gathering.
I’ve previously shared a salmon rillettes recipe, and this version highlights sardines for another easy French fish spread: Hazelnut Sardines Rillettes.
Many rillettes recipes call for heavy cream, but here Greek yogurt provides a creamy texture with fewer calories and a bright flavor. It blends smoothly with the sardines, shallot, chives and chopped toasted hazelnuts for a balanced, spreadable pâté.
If you don’t need a gluten-free option, these rillettes are delicious on toasted bread. For a low-carb or gluten-free serving, spoon them onto cucumber slices or use crisp vegetable rounds. They make a sophisticated appetizer or a healthy snack.
If you try this sardines rillettes, rate the recipe and leave a comment to share how it turned out — I love hearing from readers!
Quick and Easy Hazelnut Sardines Rillettes
Elegant, low-carb and gluten-free, these Hazelnut Sardines Rillettes come together in minutes and can be chilled ahead of time for easy entertaining.
Appetizer
French
appetizer, dip, easy, fish, French, sardines
10
minutes
10
minutes
8
people – Makes about 1.5 cups
54
kcal
Ingredients
- 2 oz hazelnuts 50 g, chopped
- 1 shallot finely chopped (about 2 tbsp)
- ½ bunch chives finely chopped
- 2 cans sardines in olive oil, mostly drained about 4 oz / 110 g each
- ⅓ cup Greek yogurt about 3.5 oz / 100 g
- freshly cracked pepper
Instructions
-
Add all ingredients to a medium bowl and mix with a fork until well combined. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and freshly cracked pepper as needed. Garnish with extra chives and chopped hazelnuts if desired.
-
Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve; chilling allows the flavors to meld.
-
Serve on toasted bread, crackers, or cucumber slices for a low-carb option.
Recipe Notes
This recipe is adapted from Saveurs French magazine. Toast the hazelnuts briefly for more depth of flavor, and roughly chop them so you retain a pleasant crunch in the spread.