Tinned Fish Saga: Pt 5 May/June

Always Human. Never AI

Let’s get right to it! Shout out to RTG for wrapping all my tins in newspaper so i dont know what i am choosing! I like the surprise!

Rugen Fisch: Herring Filets in Tomato Sauce

I usually love me a good tomato sauce BUT, this was just ok. In this case, the tomato sauce was VERY tomatoey and needed something to reduce it a bit. So I prepped some low carb noodles and mixed it all together. It wasn’t bad but the real killer here is the traumatic memories of cheap childhood fish sticks. I always hated fish sticks as a kid and for most of my childhood I didn’t actually know fish could taste good because that was the only way I had it. Unfortunately, the herring tastes similar to those gross fish sticks.

4/10. Willing to try it again, but probably not soon, maybe with fried tofu next time.

Also shout out to my Keto strawberry matcha I finally got figured out! Pure matcha powder, Lakota Monk fruit sweetener, dried strawberries and skinny? raspberry water flavoring!

Patagonia: Roasted Garlic White Anchovies

(In my defense, I had these before the whole Pattie Gonia vs Patagonia thing was very public)

Roasted garling is such a great flavor tinned fish and the very sardine-like flavor of anchovies is a great match for it. These are very pleasant to eat, can be snacked on as is but I bet they would be amazing in a fragrant rice mix with some sort of leafy herbs. Maybe basil and parsley? And oregano! Always oregano. 

7/10

Briosa Gourmet: Sardines in Olive Oil

A classic and a standard, delicious. Nothing new to report on this combo other than the sardines with the brand were very large and meaty! I do prefer some sort of added of flavor- lemon might be my favorite- But if you are looking to add fish into other recipes the olive oil is neutral and can lend itself to a lot of different flavors. 

7/10

Ati Manel: Mussels in Pickled Sauce (escebeche)

I specifically gave these a try to see if something delicious could counteract something ehh and the results? Kind of. I have already spoken about my dislike of vinegary things- which this pickled sauce is, and it has ruined other tinned fish for me in the past. Well I love mussels! It’s hard to mess up mussels in my mind, so did the escebeche ruin them?? 

Well no… but I would rather have them any other way. They were definitely better than any other escebeche tins I have had though! 

Still… Only a 4/10 for this. I just don’t like the pickle.

Ferrigno La Bonne Mer: Sardines Au Citron Confit

Back to a safe bet. Lemon sardines! This time with green olives as well. These were, as expected, wonderful and the olives really added an extra element to the flavor that stood out from other lemon and oil sardines. These are also packed in sunflower oil rather than olive oil which has less of its own flavor, in my opinion. Points for a fun can too! 8/10!

Sardinha: Sardines in Spicy Olive Oil with Chili Pepper

These were spicy enough I wouldn’t have them again outside of a larger meal. But they were also mild enough that I *would* have them again! For normal people, they are probably not spicy at all. 6/10