11/01/2011 
I had never tried sardines before and this salad made them palatable. I know that doesn’t sound like the most ringing of endorsements, but coming from me, it’s a freaking blue ribbon.
But truly, this salad is a powerhouse of Omega-3s and healthy, satiating fats. The assertive flavors here help balance out the briny sardines. Lemon helps tame the fishiness. A range of textures keeps things interesting.
If you like sardines, you’ll enjoy this salad. If you’ve been meaning to give them a try, this salad is a great starting point. If you just can’t be convinced of the health benefits of sardines, try tuna, bay shrimp, or any cooked fish fillet instead.
Sardine Salad w/ Lemon-Caper Vinaigrette
Dressing
Juice and zest of 1 lemon
1/4 cup olive oil
1 clove garlic, minced and mashed to a paste with a pinch of salt
1 Tbsp. capers
salt and pepper, to taste
Salad
2 radishes, sliced
4 green onions, sliced thinly
Couple handfuls of mixed greens
1 can sardines
1 avocado, sliced
Handful cherry tomatoes
1/4 cup basil, shredded
1) Make dressing: Combine all ingredients in small bowl. Lightly mash the capers with a fork.
2) Add radishes, green onions, and greens to a large bowl. Toss with dressing. Top each plate with 1/2 the sardines, 1/2 avocado, 1/2 tomatoes, and 1/2 of the basil.
Serves 2.
i love canned sardines, there are so easy to fix, and it’s one of the only fish that i like (with salmon). your salad looks yummy !
This sounds great. I love sardines but can’t usually think of how to serve them. Well, of course, there’s always open the can and grab a cocktail fork.
I look forward to trying this one. The only thing that would make it better, and convince more people that sardines are yummy would be to use the fresh ones. Much harder to get but so worth it! For those of us who live close to actual fish mongers they’re a real treat.
Agreed. We get them at my co-op, but they are previously frozen. Apparently truly fresh ones in season are hard to find.