Whether you love it or think you hate it, tinned fish is a shelf-stable flavor bomb ready to take simple sauces, salad dressings, and snacks to the next level at a moment’s notice. Keep a few options on hand to add a bit of brine, umami, or richness to nearly any dish under the sun. They also make great, portable beach bites. Read on for five of our favorite ways to do tinned fish!
Ready for a restock? You can find canned fish at your local grocery story, specialty food shop, or at Food52, TinCanFish, and Amazon.
Niçoise Toast with Tuna Fish and Kalamata Olives
This simple snack from Spoonabilities packs a massive punch thanks to layers and layers of big-flavor ingredients, like a smoky mayo spread, oily tuna, and fruity kalamata olives. This dish would make a great light lunch or post-work energy bite!
Canned Sardines with Triscuits, Dijon Mustard, and Cornichons
When it comes to tinned fish, simplicity reigns supreme. In this iconic “no-recipe recipe,” featured on The Mind of a Chef, Prune chef and owner Gabrielle Hamilton layers four pantry staples to make a perfect cocktail hour snack or lazy weeknight dinner. When choosing your sardines, be sure to buy ones packed in extra-virgin olive oil for the best flavor. And don’t forget the flaky Triscuits, as they’re essential to this “dish”—if you’re willing to call it that!
Tuna-Stuffed Piquillo Peppers
Piquillo peppers are succulent, sweet peppers with mild heat and tangy, smoky undertones. They are most often sold in tins, making them a ready-to-eat ingredient that can streamline prep for your next dinner party. In this New York Times Cooking recipe, piquillo peppers are paired with high-quality tinned tuna (buy the kind packed in olive oil), but you can also substitute in crabmeat or sardines.
Conservas Platter
Conservas, or tinned or canned seafood from the Iberian Peninsula of Spain and Portugal, are excellent served on crusty toasted bread or sturdy crackers and alongside olives and soft cheeses. This guide from White on Rice Couple walks you through how to assemble your own elegant platter with ease.
Creamy Feta with Tinned Fish
This super-simple preparation from The Modern Proper allows your current favorite tinned fish to really shine. Pair this dip with a glass of homemade sangria to honor the recipe’s Spanish influence.
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