This Old Fisherman Roasted Eel with Black Pepper came from a local Asian market I frequent. If number of SKUs is any indication, tinned eel is more popular than sardines there, at least the classic rectangular tin format sardines, anyway. It seems eel doesn't come unseasoned, so I chose this black pepper version as my first try. Let's see how it is.
Initial impression upon opening the can: 4.7/5.
I wasn't sure what to expect. The illustration on the can looks like fish fillets with some reddish-orange glaze. The color of what's in the tin is similar, but the physical appearance differs slightly. The aroma is of soy sauce, and a taste of the sauce is like a mild teriyaki, but with a healthy dose of black pepper. There's not a lot of sauce, the tin has a good deal of empty space. But judging by the test taste, it should be enough.
Let's Try It
It's several fillets or, I would presume, sections of much longer pieces, and there's skin on the undersides. They feel like they're going to be tough, maybe leathery. I'm thinking, since this is obviously normally eaten with chopsticks, that one grabs a larger piece and takes bites off it. My plastic fork will have to do. Consumption with rice is supposedly typical, so I'm in luck.
Digging in, they are not as tough as I had assumed. The meat yields relatively easily to the pierce of the fork. It's still al dente, though, reminiscent of the texture of authentically smoked salmon. The meat is by no means moist or juicy, but I wouldn't necessarily characterize it as dry, either. It doesn't matter, as the sauce is doing the heavy lifting here.
I also assumed there are bones in here, but they are soft enough to not be noticeable. Only in one last bite did a two inch long piece of spine reveal itself, and, for you crunchy spine lovers, I expect it would have been a real treat. It didn't bother me at all.
The peppered sauce flavor is good, and well-balanced. The preponderance of ground black pepper goes well with the teryaki, lingering on the palate. They don't seem all that salty, and the carton lists a modest 210mg. sodium.
Based on this tin, I'm no longer reluctant to try others. I thought it a worthwhile new experience.
Main Takeaways
- Interesting texture
- Tasty sauce obscures flavor of eel
- Willing to try more
Brand: Tong Rong / Old Fisherman
Description: Roasted eel with black pepper
Species: Conger eel
Country of Origin: Taiwan
Source: FAO61, Northwest Pacific
Skin/Bones: Yes/Yes
Net Wt: 3.5 oz.
Price Range: $2-3