This Spanish Recipe for PCOS - Spanish Sardine Salad is a PCOS-friendly recipe with 350 calories, 25g protein, and 20g carbs per serving. Ready in 10 minutes. High in fiber (5g), which supports insulin sensitivity.
Nutrition per Serving
Ingredients
Instructions
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Drain the sardines and set aside.
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In a large bowl, combine the salad greens, cherry tomatoes, olives, and red onion.
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In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper.
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Pour the dressing over the salad and toss to combine.
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Top the salad with the sardines.
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Serve immediately.
Why this Spanish Recipe for PCOS - Spanish Sardine Salad works for PCOS
With 25g of protein per serving (about 29% of calories), this Spanish Recipe for PCOS - Spanish Sardine Salad sits at the top end of the 25-35g per-meal range that the 2023 International PCOS Guideline recommends for managing insulin resistance and supporting lean mass. Higher-protein meals also blunt the glucose response when carbohydrates are included, which matters for women with PCOS because chronic insulin elevation drives androgen excess and irregular cycles.
The 20g of carbohydrates here come paired with 5g of fibre, which slows glucose absorption and produces a flatter post-meal blood sugar curve. Fibre is one of the most under-rated tools for PCOS: it feeds gut bacteria that produce short-chain fatty acids linked to improved insulin sensitivity, and it modestly lowers circulating androgens by binding bile acids in the gut.
Fat makes up about 39% of calories in this dish. Dietary fat plays a load-bearing role in PCOS because sex hormones are synthesised from cholesterol, and very-low-fat eating can suppress hormone production over time. The 2023 PCOS guideline does not specify a strict fat target, but most clinicians recommend at least 25-35% of calories from a mix of monounsaturated, polyunsaturated, and saturated sources.
Lunch is where most PCOS meal plans either succeed or collapse. A meal like this Spanish Recipe for PCOS - Spanish Sardine Salad that combines adequate protein, fibre-rich carbs, and fat keeps blood sugar stable for the rest of the workday and reduces the late-afternoon energy crash that drives sugar cravings around 3-4pm.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, this Spanish Recipe for PCOS - Spanish Sardine Salad recipe is designed to be PCOS-friendly. At 350 calories per serving with 25g of protein, it supports balanced blood sugar and hormonal health. It also provides 5g of fiber, which helps with insulin sensitivity.
This recipe takes about 10 minutes total. Prep time is 10 minutes. It makes 2 servings, so you can meal prep for multiple days.
Per serving: 350 calories, 25g protein (29%), 20g carbs, 15g fat. Plus 5g fiber. PCOS meal plans typically aim for 30% protein, 35% fat, 35% carbs to support insulin sensitivity.
Yes, this recipe works well as a PCOS-friendly Lunch. At 350 calories, it fits within typical PCOS meal plan targets for Lunch. Pair it with other PCOS-friendly foods throughout the day for balanced nutrition.
This recipe can be part of a structured PCOS meal plan. It makes 2 servings, making it great for meal prep. For a complete weekly plan tailored to your PCOS type, take our free 60-second quiz at pcosmealplanner.com/pcos-quiz to get a personalized 7-day meal plan.
Cook Another PCOS-Friendly Lunch
Each recipe you add to your rotation makes PCOS management easier. Variety keeps you from getting bored and quitting.
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