Sardine Salad Recipe (2024)

BY: Courtney PUBLISHED: 11 Comments UPDATED ON:

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Healthy Sardine Salad recipe for crackers or toasted bagelsardine sandwich! Easy healthy fish recipe packed with fresh lemon, peppers and onions.

Sardine Salad Recipe (1)

Growing up I loved eating canned sardines with sliced onions. My daughter now loves eating sardines too! My husband, however, won’t touch them! That was until I started making this sardine salad recipe! I’m going to show you how to eat sardines and love it! Sardines are lower in heavy metals like mercury, so this is a great alternative if you love tuna, but limit it due to heavy metal concerns. (psst, there are brands that have tuna with less mercury!)

Sardine Salad Recipe (2)Crown Prince Natural Skinless & Boneless Sardines in Pure Olive Oil, 3.75-Ounce Cans (Pack of 12)Sardine Salad Recipe (3)

I grew up eating and loving sardines, so it’s only natural that I gave it to my daughter. I wasn’t sure she would like them, but in our house, we always try it, because “we might like it”! My husband who wouldn’t touch a plain sardine was in disbelief. She can eat them plain, without anything. LOVES IT! Gobbles it up with a spoon, ha.

With this sardine salad recipe you won’t see any heavy dressing like mayo, instead I prefer to keep this a light and healthy recipe. I simply use the oil from the canned sardines and a little bit of lemon juice. You could absolutely drain out the oil and use mayo instead if you’d like. I even like to serve this recipe in romaine lettuce leaves, almost like a fish salad taco, so good!

Sardines is one of her favorites and she’ll literally beg me to buy more once we are down to the last can of sardines. It’s always on the shopping list. We ran out once and she wanted it so we ran to the store. Now we have it on auto delivery, no joke!

Since our family eats sardines so often I make sure we buy canned sardines that are in BPA free cans as well!

Sardine Salad Recipe (4)

It’s great to teach kids to learn all about their food, not just eat it.While my husband doesn’t enjoy them plain, doesn’t show her that he doesn’t like sardines that way. Instead, he joins in and cheers her on trying new food. It’s a big deal for our daughter to try new foods. Thankfully she’s great about trying stuff now that we’ve gotten her into a groove and she understands that if she doesn’t like it, we won’t force her to eat it, but she has to at least try it.

Sardine Salad Recipe (5)

I love to serve this healthy sardine salad recipe with crackers or even on a bagel, oh my yum! It’s a great breakfast brunch recipe, and I love serving it when entertaining. People never would guess it’s sardines. They LOVE it. I don’t tell them what it is until they try it. I feel like it’s harder to get an adult to try a new food rather than a child these days. 😉

Try our Healthy Sardine Salad Recipe today!

[adthrive-in-post-video-player video-id=”fNbcoNek” upload-date=”2018-05-24T16:37:34.000Z” name=”Sardine Salad Recipe” description=”Healthy Sardine Salad recipe for crackers or toasted bagel sardine sandwich! Easy healthy fish recipe packed with fresh lemon, peppers and onions.”]

Sardine Salad Recipe (6)

Sardine Salad Recipe

Author: Courtney

Healthy Sardine Salad recipe for crackers or toasted bagelsardine sandwich! Easy healthy fish recipe packed with fresh lemon, peppers and onions.

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Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes minutes

Servings: 2

Calories: 28kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 can sardines , boneless, skinless, in oil
  • 1/4 red pepper , chopped
  • 1 tablespoon red onion , chopped
  • 1/8 cup scallions , chopped
  • 1/2 lemon , juiced

Instructions

  • Dump the sardines with oil into a bowl,

  • Add in the remaining ingredients and mix well.

  • Once combined serve with crackers, on a bagel or even with toast.

Nutrition

Calories: 28kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 2g | Cholesterol: 8mg | Sodium: 32mg | Potassium: 92mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 530IU | Vitamin C: 34.5mg | Calcium: 30mg | Iron: 0.4mg

The nutritional information is automatically calculated and can vary based ingredients and products used. If the nutrition numbers are important for you we recommend calculating them yourself.

nutrition disclaimer

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Sardine Salad Recipe (11)

About Courtney

Family, Food, and Photography are Courtney's passions and you'll see all of that on this blog. She is happily married to her husband Chris and together they have two amazing kiddos!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Sardine Salad Recipe (12)KR

    Thank you for sharing! So easy to do and looks amazing!

    Reply

    • Sardine Salad Recipe (13)Courtney Lopez

      Thank you so much! I know not everyone loves sardines, but they’re so good and so good for you! 🙂

  2. Sardine Salad Recipe (14)JD SPANN

    You are 100 percent correct It’s great to teach kids to learn all about their food, not just eat it. And force her to eat it, but she has to at least try it. Is a great way for kids to learn what they like. Your Recipe sounds great I am going to try it with lime juice and a dash of sweet chili paste! You are a great mom my wife did the same with our kids who are now grown and have a very wide variety of foods they like good job.

    Reply

  3. Sardine Salad Recipe (15)Kelli Wilson

    This is delicious. I was really surprised how much I enjoyed eating this.

    Reply

    • Sardine Salad Recipe (16)Courtney

      It’s really delicious – glad you enjoyed it! 🙂

  4. Sardine Salad Recipe (17)DAL

    Easy and tastes great. I don’t like sardines but decided to try this…. everyone liked it.

    Reply

    • Sardine Salad Recipe (18)Courtney

      So glad you guys enjoyed! My husband won’t eat them, but loves this recipe! I think all the flavors take over. I can’t eat them plain, but love it with the additions!! 🙂

  5. Sardine Salad Recipe (19)Les

    Never tried sardines, but reading about the nutritional value…Can’t wait to try! Those crackers in the pic look delish, what kind are they?

    Reply

    • Sardine Salad Recipe (20)Courtney

      I hope you give it a try!! So good – and those are Mary’s Gone Crackers in everything 🙂

  6. Sardine Salad Recipe (21)Brian Mantle

    Very nice, with some extra lemon juice & a bit of mayonnaise.
    Thank you, Courtney!

    Reply

  7. Sardine Salad Recipe (22)LD

    This was DELICIOUS! THANK YOU for sharing. We like sardines, but don’t often find good recipes using them.

    Reply

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Sardine Salad Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is good to mix with sardines? ›

Despite their rich, fatty description, sardines also, perhaps counterintuitively, love more fat, which helps mellow out their flavor, so don't hold back on the olive oil (meaning, when you think you've added enough, add a bit more). Or consider eating them with mayonnaise, aioli, softened butter or jammy eggs.

What is healthier canned tuna or sardines? ›

Canned sardines are often a healthier choice than canned tuna, the experts note. While both are high in protein, sardines are more nutrient-dense. Sardines have a higher combined omega-3 (DHA and EPA) content than tuna fish, says Largeman-Roth. Sardines are also lower in mercury than tuna.

What do Greeks eat with sardines? ›

The fresh, tangy elements of a Greek salad--tomato, cucumber, feta, olives and lemony vinaigrette--pair well with rich-tasting sardines. Look for sardines with skin and bones (which are edible) as they have more than four times the amount of calcium as skinless, boneless sardines.

How do the French eat canned sardines? ›

And as with all things culinary, the French really do them right. Whether they be grilled then bathed in extra-virgin olive oil before being tinned, or combined with a bit of gentle pepper, or layered with sliced lemon, or just simply put in the tin, they're delicious.

Are canned sardines healthy? ›

Canned sardines are a nutrient-dense seafood option that can be included in a balanced, variety-filled diet. Not only are canned sardines convenient and versatile to use in your eating pattern, but they also provide heart-healthy omega-3s that may help with reducing inflammation, improving cognition and more.

Should you rinse canned sardines? ›

Rinse off excess salt.

If you can't find a brand that has a “No Salt Added” version, look for sardines that are packed in spring water. Then, rinsing the sardines may help to reduce some of the salt content. Just empty the can into a colander and rinse with cold water, shaking it and turning the sardines as you rinse.

Do you drain canned sardines? ›

When using canned fish, you can drain the liquid (e.g., water, extra virgin oil, or sauce) from the can before incorporating it into your recipes, which will help reduce the sodium if you're watching your sodium intake for any reason. Perhaps I need to do a side-by-side taste test…

Is it OK to eat canned sardines every day? ›

Sardines are small, ocean-dwelling fish. Health benefits of sardines include lower blood pressure and reduced risks of diabetes, but they are unsuitable for daily consumption, especially for certain groups.

Why are sardines so cheap? ›

There are a couple of reasons why sardines are so inexpensive: They taste pretty strongly of fish, which many people find unpleasant. One 4.4-ounce can of sardines only costs from 88¢ to $2.50, depending on quality. That's not much money.

Which is healthier sardines in olive oil or water? ›

Sardines in water have roughly half as much fat, but the amount of saturated fat isn't a lot higher in olive oil-packed sardines. In other words sardines in olive oil have more fat, but it's the good stuff.

What is the healthiest canned fish to eat? ›

The most healthful choices on this list that are available canned include anchovies, Atlantic mackerel, clams, crab, oysters, sardines, shrimp, and trout. Canned seafood brands offer varying levels of testing to ensure lower mercury levels.

What ethnicity eats sardines? ›

Sardines play an important role in Portuguese cuisine and culture. Historically a people who depend heavily on the sea for food and commerce, the Portuguese have a predilection for fish in their popular festivities.

What do Portuguese eat with sardines? ›

And let's not forget the whole sardines in olive oil with roasted red and green peppers and cilantro pesto on pão de centeio – a type of Portuguese rye bread, delicious with a Poças Special Reserve Tawny.

Can you eat sardines with tomatoes? ›

Wash the tomatoes and cut into slices. Spoon the sardines onto the toast and place the sliced tomatoes on top. Can be served immediately or after warming under the grill.

What is the healthiest way to eat sardines? ›

You can eat them right out of the can, top them with onions or peppers, or add condiments such as mustard, mayo, or hot sauce. Usually, the heads have been removed, but you'll be eating the skin and bones. In fact, that's where some health benefits lie.

Why avoid sardines in oil or sauce? ›

Canned sardines are often packed in oil, water, mustard, tomato, or other sauces that can increase sodium levels.

Are canned sardines better in water or oil? ›

Sardines in water VS oil: which one is better? Sardines in olive oil taste better - arguably. Sardines in water have roughly half as much fat, but the amount of saturated fat isn't a lot higher in olive oil-packed sardines. In other words sardines in olive oil have more fat, but it's the good stuff.

What kind of crackers are best with sardines? ›

Besides saltines, rectangular Club Crackers are another go-to. Pretty much all savory crackers are delicious with sardines, so experiment with your favorite crispbreads or flatbreads.

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