Rybacia Pomazánka
A beloved Slovak deli and grandma classic made with whole canned sardines in oil, whipped butter, mayonnaise, salted finely minced white onion, fresh chives, and lemon.
Ingredients
The Spread Base
- 2 tins (approx. 240 g total / 180 g drained) Whole sardines in oil, drained
- 90 g Unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 35 g Quality mayonnaise
- 1/2 Medium white onion, very finely minced
- 2 tbsp Fresh chives, finely snipped
- 1 tsp Dijon or mild yellow mustard
- 1–2 tsp Freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 3 g Fine sea salt
- 1 g Freshly cracked black pepper
To Serve
- Fresh crusty bread or sliced Tradičné Rožky.
- Extra salted finely diced white onion and snipped chives on top.
Method
- Prep the Onion: Finely mince the white onion, place it in a small bowl, sprinkle with a pinch of sea salt, and let it sit for 5 minutes. (Salting softens the raw sulfur bite while retaining crisp texture and sweet onion flavor).
- Whip the Base: In a mixing bowl, combine the softened butter and mayonnaise. Whip with a fork or spatula until pale, airy, and creamy.
- Incorporate the Sardines: Add the drained sardines. Mash thoroughly with a fork, breaking down the whole fish and incorporating the tender bones directly into the butter base until evenly textured.
- Fold Aromatics & Season: Fold in the salted minced white onion, fresh snipped chives, mustard, lemon juice, remaining sea salt, and freshly cracked black pepper. Stir until fully cohesive.
- Taste & Serve: Taste and adjust with extra lemon juice or black pepper. Slather generously on thick slices of fresh bread or halved rožky, finishing with an extra pinch of salted white onion and chives over the top.
Chef's Tip: Whole sardines in oil are unmatched for depth and flavor. Salting the finely diced white onion before folding it in alongside fresh chives cuts through the richness of the butter and oily fish without overpowering the spread with raw heat.