Cucumber and Tinned Fish Salad (Print Version)

Elegant salad with cucumber, avocado, and premium tinned sardines or mackerel in a refreshing vinaigrette.

# What You'll Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 1 large English cucumber, thinly sliced
02 - 1 ripe avocado, diced
03 - 4 radishes, thinly sliced
04 - 1 small shallot, finely sliced
05 - 1 tablespoon fresh dill, chopped
06 - 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped

→ Protein

07 - 1 can (3.9–4.4 oz) premium sardines or mackerel in olive oil, drained

→ Dressing

08 - 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
09 - 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
10 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
11 - 1 teaspoon honey
12 - 1 teaspoon capers, chopped
13 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

→ Garnish

14 - Lemon wedges
15 - Freshly cracked black pepper

# Steps to Follow:

01 - In a large container with a tight-fitting lid, arrange cucumber, avocado, radishes, shallot, dill, and parsley in layers.
02 - Whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, honey, chopped capers, salt, and pepper in a small bowl.
03 - Pour the dressing over the layered vegetables, seal the container, and shake gently to mix.
04 - Divide the salad evenly onto two plates and top each portion with half the drained sardines or mackerel.
05 - Finish with lemon wedges and an additional sprinkle of black pepper; serve immediately, optionally with crusty bread.

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • It's a shaker salad, which means everything gets dressed evenly and tastes better than traditional tossed versions.
  • Premium tinned fish does all the heavy lifting for protein, so you skip the cooking stress entirely.
  • This feels fancy enough for a date night but honest enough for a weeknight when you want something good without the fuss.
  • The combination of creamy avocado, crisp cucumber, and salty fish is genuinely addictive.
02 -
  • Don't assemble this salad more than 30 minutes before eating, or the cucumber will start weeping liquid and everything gets soggy—this is a last-minute dish, and that's its strength.
  • The dressing clings to the avocado in a way that can block other flavors, so don't hold back on salt and pepper; taste as you go and season boldly.
03 -
  • Buy the best tinned fish you can find—it's where your money actually matters in this recipe, and it shows in every bite.
  • Prep your vegetables in advance and keep them separate, then assemble the salad within an hour of serving to maintain that crisp snap.
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