Tostadas de Sardina (Sardine Tostadas with Pico de Gallo)
Tinned sardines on crisp tostadas with creamy avocado, fresh pico de gallo and a squeeze of lime, ready in 15 minutes.
Made with Fresh pico de gallo and Tostadas and totopos (tortilla chips). Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time15 min
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £0.93 a head
- Oven160°C (140°C fan)
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Mash the avocado with the lime juice and salt to a rough spread.
- 2
Warm the tostadas (see the tostadas and totopos base recipe) in a 160°C (140°C fan) oven for 3 minutes if they have lost their snap.
3 min - 3
Spread the avocado over the tostadas.
- 4
Lay the sardines on top, breaking larger ones in two, and spoon over the pico de gallo (see the base recipe), draining off any pooled juice first.
- 5
Top with the jalapeño slices and serve straight away with lime wedges.
Tips
- Drain the sardines well on kitchen paper so the tostadas stay crisp.
- Choose sardines in olive oil, not brine, for a richer flavour and softer texture.
- Sardines are salty already, so taste the pico before adding any extra salt.
- Assemble each tostada just before eating. They are a hands-on lunch.
Storing and freezing
Eat straight away. Keep any leftover sardines and pico in the fridge, covered, for up to 24 hours. Do not store assembled tostadas.
Questions
Is it authentic to use tinned sardines?
Yes. Tostadas de sardina are a common, cheap street food and home snack in Mexico, made with tinned sardines, tomato, onion and chilli on a crisp tostada.
Can I use other tinned fish?
Yes. Tinned tuna, mackerel or smoked oysters work in the same way, with avocado and pico de gallo. Choose fish in olive oil or water and drain it well.
Are sardines suitable for a dairy free and gluten free diet?
Plain tinned sardines in oil are. Check the label on flavoured tins, because sauces can contain gluten or dairy. The rest of the dish is free from the main allergens.
More made with fresh pico de gallo
Tacos de Tofu Sazonado con Pico de Gallo (Spiced Crumbled Tofu Tacos)
GFDFEFVolcanes de Pastor (Crisp Tortillas with Melted Cheese and Pastor Pork)
EFNFTacos de Champiñones Asados (Grilled Mushroom Tacos)
DFEFNFPescado a la Talla (Guerrero Style Guajillo Grilled Fish)
DFEFNFDouble check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.