Lemon-Herb Sardine Cakes with Caper Aioli

Lemon-Herb Sardine Cakes with Caper Aioli

Mia

These elegant Lemon-Herb Sardine Cakes transform humble tinned sardines into a sophisticated Mediterranean lunch that rivals any crab cake. Inspired by the coastal cuisines of Greece, Italy, and Portugal where sardines are celebrated for their rich omega-3 content and sustainable fishing practices, these golden patties showcase the fish's naturally buttery texture and bold flavor. Bound with almond flour instead of breadcrumbs, they're naturally gluten-free while maintaining a tender interior and achieving that coveted crispy exterior when pan-fried in heart-healthy olive oil.

The flavor profile is bright and herbaceous, with fresh dill and parsley cutting through the richness of the sardines, while lemon zest adds a citrusy punch that awakens the palate. A touch of Dijon mustard provides depth and helps bind the mixture, and finely minced shallots contribute a subtle sweetness. Each bite delivers a satisfying contrast of textures—crispy golden crust giving way to a moist, flaky interior packed with protein and healthy fats.

The accompanying caper aioli brings the dish together with Mediterranean flair. Made with Greek yogurt instead of traditional mayonnaise, it's lighter yet still luxuriously creamy, with briny capers and garlic providing punchy flavor notes that complement the sardines beautifully. This is a lunch that feels indulgent while nourishing your body with the best the Mediterranean diet has to offer—lean protein, healthy fats, fresh herbs, and minimal processing.

Perfect for meal prep or an impressive lunch gathering, these sardine cakes can be formed ahead and refrigerated until ready to cook. Serve them over a bed of mixed greens, with cucumber-tomato salad, or tucked into whole grain pita with fresh vegetables for a complete Mediterranean meal that celebrates the sea.

Nutrition

30 minutes
None servings
285 calories
Fat 20.00g
Carbs 8.00g
Protein 19.00g

Ingredients

2 canssardines in olive oil, drained (about 8 oz total)
1/2 cupalmond flour
1 largeegg, lightly beaten
3 tbspfresh dill, finely chopped
2 tbspfresh parsley, finely chopped
1 tsplemon zest
1 tbspfresh lemon juice
1 smallshallot, finely minced
1 tspDijon mustard
1/4 tspsea salt
1/4 tspblack pepper, freshly ground
2 tbspextra virgin olive oil, for frying
1/2 cupGreek yogurt, plain, full-fat
2 tbspcapers, drained and chopped
1 clovegarlic, minced
1 tspfresh lemon juice, for aioli
1 tbspextra virgin olive oil, for aioli
1/8 tspsea salt, for aioli
4 wedgeslemon wedges, for serving (optional)
4 sprigsfresh dill sprigs, for garnish (optional)

Equipment

Whisk
measuring spoons
measuring cups
large mixing bowl
fork
zester or microplane
large skillet
serving platter
small bowl
knife and cutting board
thin spatula

80/20 Diet

This recipe fits the 80/20 principle with over 80% nutrient-dense whole foods including sardines rich in omega-3s, almond flour, fresh herbs, Greek yogurt, and olive oil. All ingredients are minimally processed and anti-inflammatory, making this a solidly nutritious choice.

Anti-Inflammatory Diet

This recipe is powerfully anti-inflammatory, featuring omega-3-rich sardines, extra virgin olive oil, fresh herbs with antioxidant properties, and garlic. It completely avoids refined carbohydrates, processed foods, and inflammatory ingredients while emphasizing fatty fish and whole-food ingredients that reduce inflammation.

Atkins Diet

These sardine cakes fit Atkins principles with very low net carbs (under 10g per serving), high-quality protein from sardines and eggs, healthy fats from olive oil, and no grains, sugar, or high-carb ingredients. The almond flour and vegetables keep carbohydrates minimal while providing satisfying nutrition.

Clean Eating

This recipe exemplifies clean eating with whole, minimally processed ingredients: fresh sardines, almond flour, fresh herbs, real eggs, and Greek yogurt. It avoids refined grains, artificial ingredients, and processed foods while using simple preparation methods that preserve nutritional integrity.

Diabetic Diet

This recipe is diabetic-friendly with low glycemic impact, featuring protein-rich sardines that slow digestion, almond flour with minimal effect on blood sugar, and no added sugars or refined carbohydrates. The balanced combination of protein and healthy fats supports stable blood glucose levels.

Flexible Dieting

These sardine cakes fit perfectly into flexible dieting with trackable macros: approximately 25-30g protein, 15-18g fat, and 6-8g net carbs per serving. The whole-food ingredients provide excellent nutrition while demonstrating how satisfying, flavorful meals can fit any macro targets.

Gluten-Free Diet

These sardine cakes are naturally gluten-free, using almond flour instead of wheat-based breadcrumbs as the binding agent. All ingredients including sardines, eggs, herbs, Greek yogurt, and olive oil are naturally gluten-free with no cross-contamination concerns.

Heart-Healthy Diet

These sardine cakes are exceptionally heart-healthy, featuring omega-3-rich sardines that reduce inflammation and support cardiovascular health, heart-protective olive oil, and minimal saturated fat. The recipe avoids fried foods and processed ingredients while providing lean protein and anti-inflammatory nutrients.

High-Protein Diet

These sardine cakes are protein powerhouses, delivering 25-30g of high-quality protein per serving from sardines and eggs. The recipe prioritizes lean protein while keeping carbohydrates low and including moderate healthy fats for a balanced, muscle-supporting meal.

IIFYM (If It Fits Your Macros)

These sardine cakes are excellent for macro tracking, providing approximately 25-30g protein, 15-18g fat, and 6-8g carbs per serving. The recipe uses whole-food ingredients with clear portions, making it easy to log and fit into personalized macronutrient targets.

Intermittent Fasting

These nutrient-dense sardine cakes are ideal for eating windows during intermittent fasting, providing high-quality protein, omega-3 fatty acids, and healthy fats that promote satiety and stable blood sugar levels. The whole-food ingredients maximize nutritional value during limited eating periods.

Intuitive Eating

This recipe supports intuitive eating by offering a satisfying, nourishing meal that honors both taste and nutrition without restriction or guilt. The combination of protein-rich sardines, fresh herbs, and creamy aioli provides sensory pleasure and fullness cues that support natural hunger satisfaction.

Ketogenic Diet

These sardine cakes are keto-friendly with almond flour replacing traditional breadcrumbs, keeping net carbs very low while providing high healthy fats from sardines in olive oil and additional olive oil for cooking. The recipe delivers approximately 70-75% calories from fat with moderate protein and minimal carbohydrates, perfectly fitting ketogenic macros.

Low-Carb Diet

With almond flour as the only carbohydrate source and no grains, bread, or starchy vegetables, these sardine cakes contain approximately 6-8g net carbs per serving. The recipe emphasizes protein from sardines and eggs with healthy fats from olive oil, making it perfectly suited for low-carb eating.

Macro Diet

Perfect for flexible dieting, these sardine cakes deliver balanced macros with high protein from sardines and eggs (25-30g), moderate healthy fats from olive oil (15-18g), and low carbohydrates from almond flour (6-8g net carbs). The nutrient-dense ingredients support satiety while being easy to track.

Mediterranean Diet

This recipe is quintessentially Mediterranean, featuring sardines rich in omega-3s, extra virgin olive oil, fresh herbs (dill and parsley), lemon, and Greek yogurt. It emphasizes fish as the primary protein, uses heart-healthy fats, and incorporates traditional Mediterranean ingredients like capers and shallots while avoiding processed foods and refined grains.

Mindful Eating

These sardine cakes are ideal for mindful eating with varied textures (crispy exterior, tender interior), aromatic fresh herbs, bright lemon notes, and visual appeal from golden-brown crusts. The whole-food ingredients engage multiple senses and encourage slow, conscious appreciation of flavors and textures.

Paleo Diet

This recipe is fully Paleo-compliant, featuring wild-caught sardines, almond flour instead of grains, eggs, and fresh herbs with healthy fats from olive oil. It excludes all grains, dairy (Greek yogurt in aioli would need to be omitted or replaced), legumes, and processed ingredients while emphasizing nutrient-dense whole foods.

Pegan Diet

These sardine cakes align with Pegan principles by featuring wild-caught fish, eliminating grains (using almond flour instead), and incorporating healthy fats from olive oil. To be fully compliant, substitute the Greek yogurt in the aioli with a dairy-free alternative like cashew cream.

South Beach Diet

Perfect for South Beach Diet Phase 2 and beyond, this recipe features lean protein from sardines, healthy fats from olive oil, and uses almond flour instead of refined breadcrumbs. It avoids refined carbohydrates and processed foods while incorporating nutrient-dense fish rich in omega-3s.

Instructions

1

Drain the sardines well and transfer them to a large mixing bowl. Use a fork to gently break them apart into small flakes, keeping some texture rather than mashing completely smooth.

2 min
2

Add the almond flour, beaten egg, chopped dill, chopped parsley, lemon zest, lemon juice, minced shallot, Dijon mustard, salt, and black pepper to the bowl with the sardines.

1 min
3

Gently fold all ingredients together with a fork or your hands until well combined and the mixture holds together when pressed. If the mixture seems too wet, add 1-2 tablespoons more almond flour.

2 min
4

Divide the mixture into 8 equal portions and shape each into a patty about 2.5 inches in diameter and 1/2 inch thick. Place the formed patties on a plate.

3 min
5

While the patties rest, prepare the caper aioli by combining Greek yogurt, chopped capers, minced garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, and salt in a small bowl. Whisk until smooth and creamy. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

2 min
6
2 min

Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large, deep skillet or sauté pan over medium-high heat until shimmering.

7
4 min

Carefully place the sardine cakes in the skillet, leaving space between each patty. Cook without moving for 3-4 minutes until the bottoms are golden brown and crispy.

8
4 min

Gently flip each cake using a thin spatula and cook for another 3-4 minutes on the second side until golden brown and heated through.

9

Transfer the cooked sardine cakes to a serving platter. Serve warm with a generous dollop of caper aioli on top or on the side, garnished with lemon wedges and fresh dill sprigs if desired.

1 min

Frequently Asked Questions