Caprese Salad With Sardines

Last Updated on March 14, 2022 by Ellen Christian

You are going to love this Caprese Salad with sardines! Check out this delicious sardine salad recipe today for a healthy lunch or dinner.

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So, if you’re not a fan of sardines, you may be wondering why? Well, sardines are a great source of Vitamin B12 and we all need more of that in our diet. Keep reading for the easy, healthy sardine salad recipe below. 

Caprese Salad with Sardines

Caprese Salad With Sardines

So, a Caprese Salad is basically slices of tomato and fresh mozzarella with fresh leaves of sweet basil, salt, and olive oil. It’s an amazingly delicious summer salad.

And, it tastes even better with chopped sardines on top to give it a boost of Vitamin B12. Plus, it takes only a few minutes to put together but can serve as a complete meal.

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tomatoes and basil

This Caprese salad recipe is about as simple as it can get. You can scroll to the bottom for an easy printable recipe you can refer to. I enjoy making this recipe in the summer when I have loads of fresh tomatoes in the garden.

But, you can easily use tomatoes from the grocery store. Just make sure that the tomatoes you choose are firm so you can slice them thinly.

Why is it called a Caprese salad?

In Italy, it is technically called Caprese ensalata which means salad of Capri which is an island off the coast of Italy. It’s likely that this particular type of salad originated in Capri, hence the name. 

Sliced tomato and mozzarella on a cutting board

How long will Caprese salad last?

If you’re concerned about having leftovers, I would make each plate up before you serve it. The lettuce will wilt if you add it to the Caprese Salad with Sardines and then keep it in the refrigerator.

The tomato and mozzarella with olive oil will last for 2-3 days in the refrigerator. I would keep the sardines separate to add right before serving.

Make ahead Caprese salad

If you want a make-ahead Caprese salad, I would simply prepare everything and keep it in separate plastic containers in the refrigerator.

So, slice the tomatoes and mozzarella. Snip the basil leaves and store them between two pieces of damp paper towels. And, chop the sardines.

Then, right before you eat, assemble everything together. It should only take a few minutes from start to finish that way.  

tomatoes, basil and olive oil

What kind of olive oil should I use?

Because this Caprese Salad with Sardines is such a simple recipe, the taste of each ingredient really stands out. For that reason, I would be particular about the type of olive oil you use.

I recommend that you look for extra virgin olive oil with a robust flavor. This one is non-GMO and both Paleo and Keto friendly.

mozzarella, cherry tomatoes and basil leavesa

How should I slice the mozzarella?

Make sure that you get firm mozzarella and use a sharp knife to get thin, even slices of mozzarella. If you’d prefer, you can use mozzarella balls which won’t require cutting.

Just remove them from the container and arrange them on the plate. If you want to make this super easy, simply add the ingredients to a skewer and enjoy one bite at a time. 

Caprese salad with sardines for a boost of vitamin B12

Caprese pasta salad

I tried a Caprese pasta salad once while I was on vacation that was absolutely amazing. It was basically these ingredients, chopped, added to cooked pasta.

This works well if you want to take the salad to a potluck or a cookout. Everything will be ready when you need it. And, all you need to do is to grab the bowl and head out the door.

If you want to make this Caprese salad with sardines as a pasta salad, simply chop the ingredients rather than slicing them and toss them with pasta.

sardines in a can

What kind of sardines should I use?

I use King Oscar sardines because they are passionate about eco-friendly fishing practices. And, that’s important to me. So, I use the sardines that are packed in oil rather than the ones that are packed with a tomato type sauce. I like the flavor in this Caprese salad with sardines a lot better that way.

Why do I need Vitamin B12?

So, if you’re wondering why you need Vitamin B12 from sardines in the first place, it helps prevent a type of anemia that makes people tired and weak. And, it helps keep your body’s nerves and blood cells healthy. 

Yield: 4

Insalata caprese con sarde / Caprese salad with sardines

Caprese salad with sardines for a boost of vitamin B12

You will love this Caprese salad with sardines. The Italian version is Insalata caprese con sarde.

Prep Time 15 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 tomato
  • 1 ball of fresh mozzarella cheese
  • fresh basil
  • 1 tin of King Oscar Mediteranean Sardines
  • Olive oil, salt and pepper
  • 1 head leaf lettuce or loose greens

Instructions

  1. Arrange the lettuce on a plate. Top with slices of fresh tomato. Place the sliced fresh mozzarella on top.
  2. Break up the sardines with a fork and sprinkle over the top.
  3. Drizzle the olive oil from the sardines over the top. Or, use fresh olive oil. Add salt and pepper.
  4. Serve.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

4

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 105Total Fat: 6gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 10mgSodium: 149mgCarbohydrates: 9gFiber: 6gSugar: 3gProtein: 6g

Did you make this recipe?

If you make this, tag me on Instagram so I can see @ellenblogs

21 thoughts on “Caprese Salad With Sardines”

  1. Even with those few ingredients, i can still enjoy the taste of the lettuce, tomatoes and mozzarella, especially the saltiness of the sardines !
    Reply
  2. I'm NOT a sardine fan, BUT because I'm having to adapt to a gluten-free lifestyle, I will definitely try this!
    Reply
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  5. This sounds interesting and looks yummy!  I haven't tried plain sardines in my adulthood, but I know it's in a lot of dishes and products to make them delish.  I might just have to give it a try!
    Reply

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