I received these Nuri Spiced Sardines in Tomato Sauce as part of my recent order from International Loft. They would be a departure for me, as I had long resisted trying sardines packed in tomato sauce. It just didn't sound all that appealing. But the notion of a spiced tomato sauce piqued my curiosity. The results were surprising.
Initial impression upon opening the can: 4.9/5.
Only a fraction off because I initially thought it was only two huge pilchards. I quickly realized the can was deep, and it was a total of four. The tomato sauce looks thick, and that's a plus. It's not just a watery canned-type sauce.
There's not any real aroma from the can, the fish, the seasoning or otherwise. A sip of the oil/sauce is promising. There's a really delayed heat that doesn't hit until well into the back of the throat. But it wasn't overpowering.
I dug out the first fish, and it was tender enough to want to break apart. A taste of the fish was impressive. It was really impossible to get a sense of just the fish taste due to the tomato sauce, but everything was working in a positive way. I soon found a small red pepper, then a pickle, and finally a slice of carrot. The usual spiced suspects.
As I went, I dragged each morsel through the sauce, which was thick enough to adhere and give the complete experience to every bite. Really, really good. Everything in balance. I even got a spoon and finished every last bit of what was left in the can.
Main Takeaways
- Nice tender, flavorful fish, even though larger than my preference
- The sauce was really good, and combined with the spice even better
- Definitely buying again
Reasonably priced in a 2-pack at Amazon.
Full Disclosure
I watched a few reviews of sardines in tomato sauce before trying these. The one that made me choose them was by Sardine Expedition. And even though she found them untenably salty, I took the chance that the can she tried was an anomaly. At 500 mg. sodium for a generous 4.4 oz. portion, they shouldn't have been a total salt bomb. And even though her review was 3 weeks ago, her can was expiration dated DEC2028 while mine was 2032, meaning they were canned apparently four years apart.
Brand: Pinhais/Nuri
Description: Spiced Sardines in tomato sauce
Species: Sardina pilchardus
Country of Origin: Portugal
Source: FAO27, Northeast Atlantic
Skin/Bones: Yes/Yes
Net Wt: 4.4 oz.
Price Range: $6