Sardine season is here: Try this much-loved KZN family recipe

Babez Naidoo's family recipe.

The annual sardine run has arrived along the KwaZulu-Natal coastline, with fresh nettings reported at Port Edward, followed by catches at Pumula and Umzumbe.

For many South African families, the arrival of the sardines is more than just a natural spectacle — it marks the return of a much-loved seasonal tradition, bringing fresh catches, family recipes and memories passed down through generations.

Babez Naidoo, from Isipingo, who runs the popular Facebook food group Babez Delicious Cuisine, said sardines have always been a special part of her family’s meals.

Naidoo told the POST she learned how to clean, prepare and cook sardines from her mother when she was just 10 years old.