sardines Archives - Sardeenz!

Angelo Parodi Sardines in Olive Oil

These Angelo Parodi Sardines in Olive Oil came with an order from International Loft a few months ago. I had already tried their spicy sardines, and found them very good. I wanted to see if these plain pilchards would stand on their own. Some packages seen call them Portugese Sardines, either in English or Portugese.

Initial impression upon opening the can: 4.5/5.

Not nearly as impressive as the spicy ones were. There's not really much in the way of an aroma, just some slight fishiness, but not in a bad way. A sip of the oil is neutral. It's not EVOO, so not really surprising.

There appear to be four sizeable pilchards, all a bit ragged-looking, with some bones peering from the cavity opening. Some scales evident. Also, some pelvic fins, and on one, a tail. There are specks of something I suspect might be a little dirt. An initial bite is a bit bland, but the sardine flavor is fresh.

Let's Proceed

I'm surprised how pedestrian these look compared to the spicy ones, which were nicely packed and in virtually pristine condition.

Digging in, I found them tender and moist. The sodium level is listed as 420mg, but the taste is of far less salt.

Still, on the palate they are a meaty sardine, appearances aside.

When I got to the last fish, I broke out a little chili crisp to season it up, and that bit of extra saltiness was an improvement.

Main Takeaways

Not the prettiest pilchards
Moist, tender and meaty fish
Good flavor once you get past the looks

I have three more tins of these I got from Home Goods. They certainly will be from a different lot, so the possibility exists this tin was an anomaly, appearance-wise. I'll update once I try them, either way.

Brand: Angel Parodi
Description: Sardines in Olive Oil
Species: Sardina pilchardus
Country of Origin: Portugal
Source: FAO27, Northeast Atlantic
Skin/Bones: Yes/Yes
Net Wt: 4.23 oz.
Price Range: $4

El Raño Wild Caught Sardines with Lemon Essence

DeenLeave a comment

I had read you could sometimes find sardines at Home Goods stores. These El Raño Wild Caught Sardines with Lemon Essence would be my third such find there. The store has a "gourmet foods" aisle, and it's typically crammed full with a hodgepodge of jarred sauces, olive oils, snacks, condiments and sundry other such items.

You really have to stoop and dig sometimes, as none of it is what you'd call "merchandised". And you kind of have to watch the pricing, too. Sometimes their marked-down price is slightly above that which you can find elsewhere, if you know where to look.

This happened to be a promotional package that included a ceramic serving dish. The boxed tin was nestled in the dish, and all was slipped into a cardboard sleeve. A dot of glue kept things from sliding apart, but it also damaged the carton upon opening. I tried to find an image of an identical carton, but to no avail. It seems like many canneries change their packaging more often than their underwear. So, I did a little quick cut-and-paste photo fixing.

Initial impression upon opening the can: 4/5.

Not very pretty. It's three quite large pilchards (allegedly) crammed into the deep can. I see spine and bones protruding from one, and there are quite a number of scales. And at least one set of pelvic fins. A far cry from the pretty, silver-bellied specimens found in better tins.

There is an initial subtle aroma of lemon which quickly dissipates. There is no fishy aroma to be detected. A sip of the oil takes a moment to echo the lemon flavor.

Here We Go

Getting the first one out was difficult, and it had to be broken up to extract it. The large spine, as well as some residual entrails I'm not used to dealing with, I found to be a distraction. I scraped off some more scales and resumed my assessment.

There was a tablespoon or more of oil (listed only as vegetable oil) left in the can. I poured most of it over everything in hopes of maximizing any experience of lemon flavor.

I noted the meat was not dry, but it flaked in a way I'm not used to with sardines. Its texture was a bit like some other kind of fish (tilapia?). Another distraction. But I soldiered on.

The heat of the rice did let the lemon flavor bloom a bit, and I found at least that part of things pleasant. There was no actual lemon in the can, so "natural lemon flavor" is all I have to go on. The salt balance was OK, neither too high nor too low.

Main Takeaways

Large fish, with odd texture
Too much in the way of scales and other unpleasantries
Distractions interfered with enjoyment

I had higher hopes for these. The El Raño label is under the umbrella of Conservas Artesanas Gallegas, which also produces La Narval and Maruxaina. But it appears to be their "value" brand.

Here's a view of the full package and the serving dish.

The cost was $8, with the store tag saying "compare at $10". The dish is nothing special. But for cheap, who cares? If it had been $8 for just the tin of fish, however, I wouldn't have considered it a bargain.

Amazon sells a double-pack of a small sardines version of these at a tempting price, but I am ambivalent about risking the $12 for two smallish cans only to be potentially disappointed again.

Brand: Conservas Artesanas Gallegas / El Raño
Description: Wild caught sardines with lemon essence
Species: Sardina pilchardus
Country of Origin: Spain
Source: FAO34, Eastern Central Atlantic
Skin/Bones: Yes/Yes
Net Wt: 4.2 oz.
Price Range: $10

Angelo Parodi Sardines in Olive Oil with Chili Peppers

DeenLeave a comment

I've been wanting to try these Angelo Parodi Sardines in Olive Oil with Chili Peppers ever since my first experience with the brand, their boneless skinless sardines. Those didn't really impress me, but I hoped these Portugese pilchards would.

As with several brands these days, you may encounter several versions of packages containing the same thing. Depending upon where and when you buy them, they may appear as below or labeled in Italian as "Sardine Piccanti". The carton is impressive, with embossed, metallic highlights more in keeping with brands of much higher price (although those seen dated later lack the embossing) .

Initial impression upon opening the can: 5/5.

Some gorgeous sardines. Carefully packed silvery belly side-up. Only a couple pectoral fins and no tails. No discernable scales. The aroma from the can is not revealing anything. A sip of the reddish tinged oil tastes neutral until it reaches the back of the throat, but the heat is not at all harsh.

There are three husky fish in total. Trying to extract them from the can intact is difficult. To their credit, they are tender enough to want to split in two if not supported evenly. Underneath, there is one long piri-piri pepper that has been cut in half. Other cans I have seen contained multiple small peppers. These are not sold as "spiced" sardines or "in spiced oil", so no bay leaf or cloves. They are simply packed with just olive oil, chili peppers and salt.

Let's Eat

Here you can see the one large, bisected pepper. I tasted it, and any heat it may have had was already given up to the olive oil.

There were a good couple of tablespoons of oil left in the can, and I poured about two thirds of it over everything.

Turning to the fish, they are incredibly tender and rich. Not dry at all. The heat from the pepper is moderate and steady, not interfering with the flavor of the fish, which is fresh and mild. The salt level, listed as 420 mg, is also just right, enough to enhance the flavor without being intrusive.

Overall, there's a lot to like with these. And hard to beat for the price. A daily driver candidate, for sure.

Main Takeaways

Beautifully packed
Moist, tender, meaty fish
Steady, moderate heat from the pepper doesn't compete with the sardine flavor

Brand: Angel Parodi
Description: Sardines in Olive Oil with Chili Peppers
Species: Sardina pilchardus
Country of Origin: Portugal
Source: FAO27, Northeast Atlantic
Skin/Bones: Yes/Yes
Net Wt: 4.23 oz.
Price Range: $4

Nuri Extra Spiced Sardines in Olive Oil

DeenLeave a comment

These Nuri Extra Spiced Sardines in Olive Oil came with an order from International Loft a couple of months ago. I saw a recent review of them online, and was moved to finally crack open the can and compare thoughts. I was pleasantly surprised.

Initial impression upon opening the can: 4.9/5.

Not the prettiest, but these are some hefty pilchards, and they're packed in there tight. It's one of those deep cans, so it's a generous 4.4 oz. portion. There are no scales apparent, nor any fins or partial tails.

The aroma is of fresh fish, but not too much of the spice. A sip of the oil is spicy on the tongue, with the heat hitting squarely at the back of the throat.

Let's Dig In

Put out over rice, there are five fish in total: one smaller, three medium, and one huge. The usual spiced suspects are there, notably with three piri-piri peppers, which appear to account for the "extra". Also appearing are a pickle slice, a sliver of carrot and a chip of laurel leaf. The wrapper lists cloves, but I found none.

Even packed full, there was a substantial amount of peppery spice-infused oil left in the can, and I poured most of it over the fish and rice.

Although firm in appearance, these are incredibly tender, and not dry at all. The heat from the peppers is steady and complements the flavor of the fish nicely. It is, however, piquant enough to prompt some scalp perspiration.

All in all, a top notch can of fish that I'd happily buy again. Although I'm not sure what, other than the extra pepper or two, makes these cost $2 more than their regular "spiced" version.

Update: Apparently, in addition to the triple peppers, the extra cost can be attributed to the fact these are aged a minimum of 90 days longer than the regular spiced version, before being shipped to market.

Main Takeaways

Tender, moist, mild flavored fish
Spiciness well-balanced
Steady heat, short of overpowering

See it at Amazon.

Brand: Pinhais/Nuri
Description: Extra Spiced Sardines in Olive Oil
Species: Sardina pilchardus
Country of Origin: Portugal
Source: FAO27, Northeast Atlantic
Skin/Bones: Yes/Yes
Net Wt: 4.4 oz.
Price Range: $8

Matiz Lightly Smoked Sardines in Spanish Olive Oil

DeenLeave a comment

These Matiz Lightly Smoked Sardines in Spanish Olive Oil came from World Market about three months ago. To be honest, I kind of lost track of them in my tinned fish stash. It's starting to get out of hand. Some recently reviewed plain sardines made me want to continue on that path for a while, even though I'll probably find some spiced ones and try them next. Let's see how these were.

Initial impression upon opening the can: 4.8/5.

Nice looking fish, photogenically packed silver belly side up. The aroma from the just-opened can is neutral, not really imparting any smokiness. A sip of the oil is also neutral, but I think I detect a subtle note of spice that shouldn't be there. There look to be five husky pilchards.

A taste of the fish is promising, though. The meat has a soft, melt-in-your-mouth texture. No scales to speak of, nor fins. A couple of partial tails, though.

Let's Eat

Extracting them from the can to put out over rice, they are firm enough not to fall apart. There is also the five fish, a welcome portion. About a half inch of oil is left in the can and I pour half of it over everything.

Working my way through the first couple, I find the meat consistently tender and moist. The fish flavor is mild, but I thought it could have used a touch more salt.

Still not getting any smoke, though. The ingredients list only "smoked aroma", which tells me there is room for inconsistency can-to-can. I find it to be the case, more often than not, that the promise of "lightly smoked" is rarely fulfilled, especially when natural smoke is not involved.

A Moment of Weakness

OK, I admit I'm a flavor junkie. These were some really nice plain sardines, lack of smoke and dearth of salt aside. But after confirming my assessment of them unadorned, I just couldn't resist adding a little kick.

I topped the remaining few fish with a dash of Trader Joe's Crunchy Chili Onion. It's very onion/garlic forward, not too salty. It has a steady heat that borders on excessive, but stops just short of discomfort. Really good, and a bargain at under $5 a jar.

Main Takeaways

Tender, moist fish with mild, fresh flavor
Lacked smoke and salt
Generous portion of five pilchards

Brand: Connorsa / Matiz
Description: Lightly Smoked Sardines in Spanish olive oil
Species: Pilchards
Country of Origin: Spain
Source: FAO27, Northeast Atlantic
Skin/Bones: Yes/Yes
Net Wt: 4.2 oz.
Price Range: $5-6

Ramón Peña Sardines in Olive Oil 16/20

DeenLeave a comment

These Ramón Peña Sardines in Olive Oil 16/20 came with an order from International Loft about two months ago. Their inventory of the brand is not as large as others, but they did have this configuration when others did not. I was looking forward to these smaller pilchards. Let's see how they were.

Initial impression upon opening the can: 4.9/5.

The skin is a little roughed up, but it's a fault easy to overlook, as they are quite small and delicate. The can is a deep one, and contains two layers of eight fish. The aroma is fresh. A sip of the olive oil (not listed as EVOO) is neutral with a hint of saltiness.

A taste of the first fish alone is exquisite. It is extremely melt-in-your-mouth tender, yet just firm enough that the fish don't fall apart when plucked from the can. No scales at all. Some have partial tails remaining but they were in no way noticeable on the palate. I ate the first four this way, and had a hard time stopping.

Time For Lunch

I put eight more out over some sticky rice, but had to leave the last four in the can because there wasn't enough room for them all.

Bite after bite, I marveled at the tenderness and mild flavor. Very moist fish. Probably the best plain, small pilchards I've had to date.

After moving the last four fish to the bowl, I applied a few dashes of Salsa Espinaler, just to see what it would do. I found it a bit of an improvement, but mainly because the salt level of the plain sardines seemed rather low. Regardless, I enjoyed them either way.

The label calls the entire can two servings. But I'm not one known for tinned fish leftovers. At 200 calories for the whole can, I could afford to be a little gluttonous.

Main Takeaways

Super tender, mild flavored fish
Could have used a pinch more salt
A definite re-buy, if available

Brand: Ramón Peña
Description: Sardines in olive oil 16/20
Species: Sardina pilchardus
Country of Origin: Spain
Source: FAO27, Northeast Atlantic
Skin/Bones: Yes/Yes
Net Wt: 4 oz.
Price Range: $9

Wild Planet Sardines in EVOO with Lemon, Part 2

DeenLeave a comment

A recent review of Natural Catch Sardines in Organic EVOO got me thinking about these Wild Planet Sardines in EVOO with Lemon again. The Natural Catch are sourced from Viet Nam, and are not true pilchards, but rather another species endemic to that part of the world. These Wild Planet are, as well, and are processed in Thailand. Let's see what I think this time.

Initial impression upon opening the can: 4.5/5.

The first time around, 7 months ago, I wasn't too impressed, overall. I really didn't get any sense of smoke, and very little lemon. This time, a sip of the oil revealed a subtle hint of smoke, so being labeled lightly smoked is apropos. Again, I'm moved to comment there should be a labeling requirement to say "with oil" when it's apparent the packing liquid is only partly oil. I note that water is included as an ingredient here, listed just after the EVOO.

The appearance and aroma are about the same as last time. They are scale-free as touted, but there are some pelvic fins still attached. The aroma is neutral, not smelling of fish or smoke. This time there are four fish as opposed to three, a plus in my book.

I put them out over rice, fished out the lemon and "artfully" arranged it over the fish.

As last time, the lemon has had most of its flavor cooked out by the canning process. But I am getting more of an impression of it from the fish this time.

The fish are meaty and reasonably tender. I don't find them dry at all. The salt level is a little on the low side, but adequate. I sprinkled a little furikake over the last fish, and its additional salt I deemed an improvement. It may have even enhanced the lemon flavor somewhat.

Part of my reason for wanting to revisit these was to reassess the Northwestern Pacific variety of sardine. To date, the only brand available to me has been the Wild Planet. Until I can obtain selections of another brand containing them in single quantities, these will have to be the basis for my judgement of the species.

Main Takeaways

Meaty, tender fish
A little saltier might have been better
More smoke flavor this time, but the lemon still needs improvement

If you prefer these Northwestern Pacific sardines, at the price, these are still a good value.

Brand: Wild Planet
Description: Sardines in Extra Virgin Olive Oil with Lemon
Species: Sardinops sagax or melanostictus
Country of Origin: Thailand
Source: FAO61, Northwest Pacific
Skin/Bones: Yes/Yes
Net Wt: 4.4 oz.
Price Range: $3