These Diplomats Fried Brisling Sardines in Sriracha Sauce were found at World Market. They were a new item, one of a handful of flavor varieties. The brand sounded familiar, but I couldn't quite remember why. Before I had a chance to open them, I realized that I had forgotten I watched a youtube review of another Diplomats brisling flavor. It did not go well at all. So I 'm hoping to not be equally disappointed.
Initial impression upon opening the can: 4.8/5.
At first glance, not as bad as I had feared. The Sriracha sauce is thick and clinging to the fish. Some oil has separated but neither it nor the sauce fill the can. The aroma is of pepper and vinegar. I can't really see evidence of frying. Perhaps more will be revealed once they're out of the tin.
Let's See What We've Got Here
I chose to lift them out rather than just dump. They are clumped together, and I can't tell if that's from the frying or just the sauce gluing them together.
Separating them with a fork, I see some tails, typical of Latvian sprats. There appear to be just 9 fish total, not exactly small for sprats.
An initial taste of the sauce is unsurprising, it's basically just Sriracha sauce. The label also indicates soy flour and rapeseed oil, but that appears related to the frying. There's not really anything in the way of a coating, more like they were just floured and fried. The oil in the bottom of the tin is likely more from the frying than separated from the sauce.
Digging in, they are firm enough, in no way the mushy mess the youtuber experienced. The tails aren't prickly at all, a plus. The only problem I'm having is the Sriracha sauce overpowering any flavor the fish might have imparted. It's hot, but not too hot. Nonetheless, I found it fatiguing towards the end.
Main Takeaways
- Firm, meaty sprats
- Not sure what the frying added
- Overpowering sauce
Brand: Unda Ltd. / Diplomats
Description: Fried brisling in sriracha sauce
Species: Sprattus sprattus
Country of Origin: Latvia
Source: FAO27 Northeast Atlantic
Skin/Bones: Yes/Yes
Net Wt: 3.53 oz.
Price Range: $5