Another selection from a recent online order, these JOSÉ Gourmet Smoked Small Sardines in Extra Virgin Olive Oil were intriguing. The majority of smoked sardines are sprats/brisling, so I welcomed the opportunity to try smoked pilchards, and especially some from a premium quality producer.
Initial impression upon opening the can: 4.9/5.
The five you see are what you get. This is one of those shallower cans. I was hoping for smaller fish, but that's OK. The initial whiff when cracking open the can was similar to that of tinned smoked oysters. The carton doesn't specify how the smoke flavor is achieved, but one has to assume from the firmness of the fish, the bronze appearance of the skin and the pink hue to the flesh that these are naturally wood smoked. A sip of the oil has, for lack of a better word, a "woody" note, like the oak-y notes of a fine red wine.
Some pelvic fins remain, but no scales evident. They are firm enough to be pulled from the can intact. The fish is tender but with that al dente bite smoked fish often exhibit. The smoke level is just right, not overpowering the taste of the fish.
Using EVOO is always welcome, but any flavor notes it might have imparted were masked by the smoke.
All in all, though, another quality selection from JOSÉ Gourmet.
Reasonably priced in lots of three at Amazon.
Main Takeaways
- Not really all that small
- Great smoky aroma and flavor
- Good overall balance lets fish flavor still shine through
Brand: 100 Misterios / JOSÉ Gourmet
Description: Smoked Small Sardines
Species: Pilchards
Country of Origin: Portugal
Source: FAO27, Northeast Atlantic
Skin/Bones: Yes/Yes
Net Wt: 3.2 oz.
Price Range: $9