Cucumber and Tinned Fish Salad (Printable Version)

Fresh cucumber, avocado, and tinned fish combine with a zesty dressing for a light and elegant meal.

# Needed Ingredients:

→ 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 (4–4.4 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 chopped capers
13 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

→ Garnish

14 - Lemon wedges
15 - Freshly cracked black pepper

# Steps:

01 - In a large jar or container with a tight-fitting lid, layer the cucumber, avocado, radishes, shallot, dill, and parsley.
02 - In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, honey, chopped capers, salt, and pepper.
03 - Pour the dressing over the layered vegetables in the jar. Seal and shake gently to combine.
04 - Divide the salad onto two plates. Top each with half the drained sardines or mackerel.
05 - Garnish with lemon wedges and an extra sprinkle of black pepper. Serve immediately with crusty bread if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Everything comes together in a jar with a single satisfying shake, no mixing bowls to wash.
  • The briny richness of tinned fish against cool cucumber and creamy avocado tastes far fancier than the effort involved.
  • Its the kind of meal that feels intentional and elegant, even when youre too tired to stand over a stove.
02 -
  • Shake the jar gently, not violently, or the avocado will turn into green mush and the whole salad will look bruised and sad.
  • Drain the tinned fish well before adding it to the plate, excess oil can make the salad slick and heavy instead of bright and balanced.
  • Use the salad immediately after shaking, it doesnt hold well once dressed because the cucumber and radishes start weeping and the avocado oxidizes.
03 -
  • Chill your jar in the fridge for ten minutes before assembling, it keeps everything crisp and refreshing, especially on warm evenings.
  • If youre prepping ahead, layer everything except the avocado and dressing, then add those right before shaking to prevent browning and sogginess.
  • Invest in a jar with a truly tight seal, a loose lid will leak dressing everywhere and ruin the magic of the shake.
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