These Espinaler Sardines in Pickled Sauce 3/5 (Escabeche) came from Caputo's. As part of the Espinaler "classic" line, they are still quite a bargain at $5. I'd had their mussels in pickled sauce before, and wondered how that might translate to sardines.
This was one of those deep, super stiff cans with the undulating ridges on the lid. Usually, that makes for a big mess when either your hand or the lid suddenly slips, and the packing oil or sauce flies everywhere. Savvy sardine aficionados have learned a "walk and rock" technique to get the lid off without incident. Typically, you can get the lid about halfway peeled back before things start getting dicey. But, if you "walk" it, concentrating on the left and right alternately, you can get to a point where you can "rock" the lid back and forth until it gently releases. Thus endeth the lesson.
Initial impression upon opening the can: 4.9/5.
On a 3/5 tin of sardines, I always hope for 5, but in this case got 3. Beautifully packed, pristine skin, no scales, fins or tails. The aroma of the sauce is immediately apparent when the lid is first cracked.
A sip of the oil/sauce is less revealing, but would bloom later on. The oil in this case is sunflower.
Time To Eat
I heaved the three big pilchards out over rice, and before pouring any of the sauce/oil over them, took a minute to whisk it back into an emulsion with a plastic fork.
Digging in, the fish are as tender as can be expected from pilchards their size. They are acceptably moist, with a good, fresh sardine flavor.
It hadn't struck me before now, only having had this sauce preparation with their mussels, that the flavor of this pickled sauce/escabeche is quite reminiscent of the Salsa Espinaler appetizer sauce. Both are vinegary, with a mild pepper note.
I didn't find these notably absent of salt, but the sauce made up for any lack thereof. Sodium is listed as a moderate 350mg.
I thought it was odd that the carton I received was printed (in Spanish) "sardines in olive oil". Only two labels, applied over the back and front, contained the name and information for sardines in pickled sauce. Someone must have forgotten to order boxes at the cannery.
Brand: Espinaler
Description: Sardines in pickled sauce
Species: Sardina pilchardus
Country of Origin: Spain
Source: FAO27, Northeast Atlantic
Skin/Bones: Yes/Yes
Net Wt: 4.05 oz.
Price Range: $5