These petite whole sardines (with the heads removed) are just under two inches long, but their small stature doesn’t equal a lack of flavor. Elegant, clean and tasting lightly of the sea, these sardines have no trace of the pungent fishiness and unpleasant unctuousness that store bought versions often have. Their meaty texture is the perfect compliment to the silky richness that the olive oil gives the fish, lightly coating each one and helping to carry their flavor. And as with other whole tinned fish, there are still spines inside. They are easy to scrape out, but are made soft and brittle enough during the normal processing that they are barely noticeable when eaten.
With shockingly silver skins and delicate, pale flesh, these fish get more flavorful with time, as they’re aged with precision at Conservas De Cambados’ facility to absorb the richness of their olive oil marinade.
We test everything we sell. Here’s how we’d use this.
We love using tinned fish for a lovely light meal and these sardines are no exception. Serve simply atop toast or crackers, or a charcuterie board laden with nutty aged cheeses, bold chorizo or cured ham, fresh or dried fruit and other meaty bites. They’re also a great compliment to our Spanish Grilled Vegetables (Escalivada) or a leafy salad like our Celery and Frisée Salad (Amanida d’Api). The sardines also flavor rice dishes well and can serve as a milder substitute for anchovy fillets. And incorporating them into a rich and creamy spread is always a hit: Mash them up with cream cheese, butter, lemon juice, salt and fresh herbs like parsley or scallions and slather on a toasted bagel or crusty bread.
Like shrimp, these sardines are classified on their tins by size: 20/25, which is the approximate number of sardines per pound. Tip: Warming your tinned fish before eating wakes up some of the flavors. Simply remove the outer packaging and open the can a small crack (to allow for building pressure to escape) and put them, tin and all, in a low oven to heat.
On purchases of $149.95+ in the contiguous 48 states.
Save up to 40% on items when you purchase 2 or more!
#changethewayyoucook
