Salada Algarvia with Grilled Sardines

Ingredients

• 4 fresh sardines, cleaned and gutted 4 fresh sardines, cleaned and gutted
• 2 large tomatoes, diced 2 large tomatoes, diced
• 1 cucumber, peeled and sliced 1 cucumber, peeled and sliced
• 1 red onion, thinly sliced 1 red onion, thinly sliced
• 1 green bell pepper, seeded and sliced 1 green bell pepper, seeded and sliced
• 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
• 3 tablespoons olive oil 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
• 2 cloves garlic, minced 2 cloves garlic, minced
• Salt and pepper to taste Salt and pepper to taste

Nutrition

• Calories (kcal / KJ): 250 kcal / 1046 KJ
• Fat (total, saturated): 15g, 3g
• Carbohydrates (total, sugars): 10g, 5g
• Protein: 20g
• Fiber: 3g
• Salt: 0.5g

Preparation

1. 1.
   Preheat the grill to medium-high heat.
2. 2.
   In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, white wine vinegar, minced garlic, salt, and pepper to make the dressing. Set aside.
3. 3.
   Season the sardines with salt and pepper on both sides.
4. 4.
   Place the sardines on the preheated grill and cook for 3-4 minutes per side, or until they are cooked through and have grill marks.
5. 5.
   Remove the sardines from the grill and let them cool slightly.
6. 6.
   In a large bowl, combine the diced tomatoes, sliced cucumber, sliced red onion, sliced green bell pepper, and chopped parsley.
7. 7.
   Drizzle the dressing over the vegetables and toss gently to coat.
8. 8.
   Divide the salad onto plates and top each portion with a grilled sardine.
9. 9.
   Serve the Salada Algarvia immediately and enjoy!

Treat your ingredients with care...

• Sardines — Make sure to clean and gut the sardines properly before grilling to remove any scales or innards. This will ensure a pleasant eating experience.
• Tomatoes — Choose ripe and juicy tomatoes for the best flavor. If they are not in season, you can use cherry tomatoes instead.
• Cucumber — Remove the seeds from the cucumber before slicing to prevent the salad from becoming watery.
• Red onion — Soak the sliced red onion in cold water for 10 minutes to mellow out its sharp flavor.

Tips & Tricks

• If you can't find fresh sardines, you can use canned sardines packed in olive oil as a substitute.
• For an extra burst of flavor, add some sliced black olives or capers to the salad.
• Serve the Salada Algarvia with crusty bread to soak up the delicious dressing.
• If you prefer a milder onion flavor, you can soak the sliced red onion in cold water for a longer period of time, up to 30 minutes.
• To make the salad more filling, you can add boiled potatoes or hard-boiled eggs as additional toppings.

Serving advice

Serve the Salada Algarvia as a main course for a light and healthy lunch or dinner. Accompany it with crusty bread and a glass of chilled white wine for a complete Portuguese dining experience.

Presentation advice

Arrange the grilled sardines on top of the salad, slightly overlapping them for an appealing presentation. Garnish with a sprig of fresh parsley for a pop of color.