Recipe: Sardine-licious!

When I was a kid, I remember every so often my dad would take out a can of sardines from the lazy susan, peel back the top, remove an oily piece of fish, pull out its tiny bones, drop it on a saltine cracker, and eat it.  I actually loved partaking in this treat with him (though I found the canned oysters nasty).  Mom thought it was all gross.  Then, after probably the age of 10, sardines became gross to me to…until about a year ago.  Now I can’t believe I ever turned my back on these little guys – talk about delicious AND nutritious powerhouses!  For someone who doesn't eat much in the way of animals, this swimmer is a permanent fixture in my diet.

So I thought today, as a complement to my post on oils, and specifically the part about Omega-3’s, I’d provide you with my favorite Omega-3 (not to mention Vitamin D, calcium if you eat the bones, and vitamin B12) packed recipe: Sardine salad!  If you just crinkled your nose and considered closing the page, STOP!  Don’t refuse.  It doesn’t sound good, I know.  But trust me, it is!  If you like tuna (the canned kind), try it.  Even if you don’t, try it. 

Sardine Salad

Note: This is my slight adaptation from Whole Living’s “Creamy Sardine Salad” since we don’t do dairy!

Ingredients:

1 4.4 oz can wild caught (we love Wild Planet) sardines, packed in oil.

Note: debone them if you’re freaked out by the bones, they should come out in one piece (see picture).  If you’re brave, the bones are full of calcium!

¼ cup Vegenaise (we like Follow Your Heart) or plain soy yogurt

1-2 diced celery stalks

1 Tablespoon minced chives (plus more for garnish if desired)

1 teaspoon horseradish or other whole grain mustard (we like Annie’s organic horseradish mustard)

1 cup baby spinach, chopped

1 cup chard, kale, collard or other greens, chopped

1 teaspoon olive oil

1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

Salt and pepper

Chop and mix spinach and greens.  Toss greens with olive oil and lemon juice, sprinkle with salt and pepper and set aside.  Mix Vegenaise, horseradish mustard, celery and chives in a separate bowl.  Fold in sardines.   Top greens with sardine mixture and garnish with more chives if desired.  We like to serve this salad with Mary's Gone Crackers.  Enjoy!  I think you will...

Serves 2-4.