Fresh sardines for dogs with sweet potato and peas
Grain-free fresh sardine recipe for dogs with sweet potato and peas. How to clean sardines and remove the bones, why they're always cooked, step by step.
- Time
- 50 min + 10 min resting
- Makes
- About 1.15 kg / 2.5 lb (2 days for a 10 kg / 22 lb dog; 3-4 days for a 5 kg / 11 lb dog)
- Type
- Main meal
- Difficulty
- Medium
- 38 % fresh sardines, cleaned and boneless
- 30 % sweet potato
- 11 % green peas
- 11 % zucchini
Follows THE RULE. All 6 ingredients are on our safe list: nothing that could harm your dog.
Fresh sardines for dogs are omega-3 at its most seasonal: in summer they're at their best, inexpensive and full of flavor. This grain-free recipe pairs them with sweet potato, peas, zucchini and egg. Unlike canned sardines, here you need to remove every bone, and we'll show you how to do it quickly.
If the fish counter will clean them and open them flat for you (ask for them butterflied), you save half the work. The roasted sweet potato gets mashed together with the sardines into an orange, moist mix with a strong fishy smell. It freezes very well, so it's worth making a double batch when sardines are cheap.
Why it works
Fresh sardines provide protein, the omega-3s EPA and DHA and vitamin D, with very little mercury because they're a small fish. Once the bones are removed they lose almost all their calcium, which is why the recipe includes eggshell. The egg adds protein and variety. Sweet potato is the energy, with fiber and beta-carotene, and the peas and zucchini add fiber and bulk. Being grain-free, it's an alternative for dogs that do better without rice.
Step by step
Roast the sweet potato
Preheat the oven to 200 °C / 400 °F. Peel the sweet potato, cut it into 2 cm (¾ inch) cubes and roast it on a parchment-lined baking sheet for 25 minutes, until it falls apart under a fork. You can also boil it for 15 minutes.
Clean the sardines
If they aren't cleaned: remove the head, open the belly with your finger, pull out the guts and lift the backbone from the head end toward the tail; it comes out in one piece with most of the bones attached. Rinse the fillets under the tap.
Boil the eggs and peas
Boil the eggs for 10 minutes. For the last 5, add the peas and the zucchini, cut into 1 cm (½ inch) dice, to the same pot. Drain, cool the eggs, peel and chop them.
Steam the sardines
Place the sardine fillets in a steamer, or in a covered skillet with a finger's depth of water, and cook for 5-6 minutes, until the flesh is opaque.
Check again for bones
Flake each fillet with your fingers and remove any remaining bones, especially along the edges of the belly. They're much easier to feel once cooked than raw.
Mash, mix and add the calcium
Mash the sweet potato with a fork, add the sardines, egg, peas and zucchini, and mix. Let it cool for 10 minutes, sprinkle over the ground eggshell and stir well.
How much should I feed?
Approximate daily portion for a "spayed or neutered adult" profile. Split it into two meals (three or four for puppies).
— g a day
| Weight | 3 kg | 5 kg | 10 kg | 15 kg | 20 kg | 30 kg | 40 kg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grams/day | 220 | 320 | 540 | 735 | 910 | 1,235 | 1,530 |
Puppy, senior, very active or on a diet? Calculate the exact portion.
- Energy
- 116 kcal/100 g
- Protein
- 49 % dry matter
- Fat
- 19 % dry matter
- Calcium:phosphorus
- 1.3 : 1
Values estimated from the ingredients (BEDCA/USDA data). An everyday meal. To feed it daily as the only food, add a vitamin and mineral supplement for homemade diets.
Storage
Fridge: 2 days at most in an airtight container. Freezer: up to 2 months, in well-sealed portions so the smell doesn't spread to everything else in the freezer. Thaw in the fridge and serve lukewarm or at room temperature.
If you don't have…
- You don't have time to clean sardines
- Canned sardines in water with no added salt, drained: 400 g (14 oz) with their soft bones, and reduce the eggshell to 4 g
- You can't find sweet potato
- Pumpkin in the same amount, roasted for 20 minutes, plus 150 g (5 oz) cooked potato
- Your dog doesn't tolerate peas
- Green beans in the same amount
- You want to vary the oily fish
- Boneless fresh mackerel in the same amount; increase the eggshell to 5 g
Cooking tips
- In Europe, sardines are at their best from June to September: fattier, tastier and cheaper. It's a good time to cook and freeze. Elsewhere, ask at the fish counter when fresh sardines are in season.
- Clean the sardines under cold running water, and wear thin gloves if you don't want the smell to stay on your hands.
- To feed it every day as the only meal, add a vitamin and mineral supplement made for homemade diets: the recipe covers protein, energy, calcium and omega-3, but not every vitamin and trace mineral.
- You don't need salmon oil with this recipe: the sardines already cover the day's omega-3.
Safety
- Remove every bone: unlike canned sardines, the bones in fresh sardines are hard and can get stuck.
- Always cooked: raw sardines can carry Anisakis and contain thiaminase, an enzyme that destroys vitamin B1. Cooking eliminates both problems.
- Buy very fresh sardines and keep them cold: poorly stored oily fish builds up histamine, which isn't destroyed by cooking.
- No pickled, salted or smoked sardines, and none grilled with coarse salt.
Frequently asked questions
Can I give my dog fresh sardines?
Yes, always cooked and boneless. Fresh sardines are an excellent source of omega-3, protein and vitamin D, and they're very low in mercury. Steam, bake or poach them without salt, and remove the backbone and the thin bones along the sides. If they've been grilled with coarse salt at a cookout, it's better not to share them.
Are raw sardines good for dogs?
They're not recommended. Raw sardines can carry Anisakis larvae and contain thiaminase, an enzyme that destroys vitamin B1; fed raw often, they can cause a deficiency. Their raw bones are also hard. Steaming them for a few minutes removes these risks and keeps most of their omega-3s.
Can dogs eat peas?
Yes, cooked peas are safe and provide fiber, some plant protein and vitamins. As part of a recipe with meat or fish, in moderate amounts, they're fine. What's being investigated is the use of large amounts of legumes as the base of grain-free kibble, not a few peas in a meal. Avoid canned peas with salt.
Is sweet potato good for dogs?
Yes, cooked sweet potato is one of the best energy sources for dogs: it provides fiber, beta-carotene and vitamin C, and almost all dogs like its sweet taste. Always serve it cooked or roasted, peeled and without salt or sugar. Raw, it's hard to digest. For overweight or diabetic dogs, adjust the amount.
What's in it, in detail
- Sardines Yes
- Sweet potatoes Yes
- Peas Yes
- Zucchini Yes
- Eggs Yes
If they liked it, try
The fridge list
The foods your dog can eat, can have in moderation and must never eat, on a single printable page.