Mediterranean Diet Friendly Smoky Paprika Sardine & Cucumber Salad

Total time15 min

Prep time15 min

Cook time0 min

Mediterranean Diet Friendly Smoky Paprika Sardine & Cucumber Salad

This crisp, sunny salad checks every box for anyone eating the Mediterranean way, and it comes together in minutes with almost no cooking involved. Crisp cucumber, juicy cherry tomatoes, sharp red onion, and fresh parsley get tossed in a smoky-warm dressing built from extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice, smoked paprika, cumin, and grated garlic, then briny capers add little pops of flavor throughout. Sardines lay over the top, flaked into big, satisfying pieces, bringing a rich dose of good fats and protein straight from the tin to the table. The smoked paprika and cumin give the whole dish a deep, slightly smoky edge that plays beautifully against the bright acidity of the lemon juice and the coolness of the cucumber. It's light enough for a quick lunch but substantial enough to call dinner, and it's exactly the kind of simple, olive-oil-forward, fish-and-vegetable plate this way of eating is built around.

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Ingredients

2 servings

For the salad

2 cans (4.25 oz each) sardines packed in olive oil, drained
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1 english cucumber, halved lengthwise and sliced into half-moons
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
¼ cup red onion, thinly sliced
¼ cup fresh flat-leaf parsley, roughly chopped
1 tbsp capers, drained (optional)

For the dressing

3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
1 tsp smoked paprika
½ tsp ground cumin
1 small garlic clove, finely grated
¼ tsp salt, or to taste
¼ tsp black pepper, or to taste
¼ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)

Instructions

1
In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, smoked paprika, cumin, garlic, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes, if using, until the dressing is uniform and slightly emulsified.
2
In a large bowl, combine the cucumber, cherry tomatoes, red onion, parsley, and capers, if using.

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