04 September 2026
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World Kitchen Journal
Chopped Salad With Sardines and Preserved Lemon
The Kitchen

Chopped Salad With Sardines and Preserved Lemon

This sardine salad brings fattoush and Greek salad vibes, featuring pita chips, crunchy vegetables, and a zippy preserved lemon vinaigrette. Elements ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling ¼ cup (or more) very finely chopped preserved lemon (seeds removed), plus brine as needed; or preserved lemon paste …

By Test Kitchen · Greece · 2 min ·
Ingredients · Servings 4
  • ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
  • ¼ cup (or more) very finely chopped preserved lemon (seeds removed), plus brine as needed; or preserved lemon paste
  • 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
  • 1 lb. Persian or English hothouse cucumbers, cut into bite-size pieces
  • 12 oz. mixed tomatoes, cut into bite-size pieces
  • ¾ cup mixed olives (such as Castelvetrano, Kalamata, Cerignola, or niçoise), pitted, halved
  • 3 cups salted pita chips
  • Kosher salt (optional)
  • 2 4–5-oz. cans oil-packed sardines, drained
Method · 20 minutes
  1. Whisk ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil and ¼ cup very finely chopped preserved lemon (seeds removed) or preserved lemon paste in a medium bowl to combine.
  2. Combine 1 small red onion, thinly sliced, 1 lb. Persian or English hothouse cucumbers, cut into bite-size pieces, 12 oz. mixed tomatoes, cut into bite-size pieces, and ¾ cup mixed olives (such as Castelvetrano, Kalamata, Cerignola, or niçoise), pitted, halved, in a large bowl. Add dressing and toss to combine. Add 3 cups salted pita chips and mix gently to incorporate. Taste salad and add more preserved lemon and/or brine if desired; season with kosher salt if needed.
  3. Transfer salad to a large shallow bowl. Halve sardines (crosswise) from two 4–5-oz. cans oil-packed sardines, drained, and nestle into salad. Drizzle with more oil.

Combine 1 small red onion, thinly sliced, 1 lb. In a large bowl, persian or English hothouse cucumbers, cut into bite-size pieces, 12 oz. mixed tomatoes, cut into bite-size pieces, and ¾ cup mixed olives (such as Castelvetrano, Kalamata, Cerignola, or niçoise), pitted, halved.

Add 3 cups salted pita chips and mix gently to incorporate. Taste salad and add more preserved lemon and/or brine if desired; season with kosher salt if needed.

Halve sardines (crosswise) from two 4–5-oz. cans oil-packed sardines, drained, and nestle into salad.

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