sunflower oil Archives

Casablanca Spicy Sardines with Hot Peppers

These Casablanca Spicy Sardines with Hot Peppers came from a local Middle-Eastern market. I've learned to check there regularly, as I've found several selections I haven't seen elsewhere, and they seem to get new things frequently. Moroccan sardines at $2 a tin felt like a challenge worth taking.

Initial impression upon opening the can: 4.5/5.

It's one of those stiff, scary-to-open cans with the squiggly ridges on the lid. Fortunately, I get it open without incident. It's just two huge pilchards, which I've come to expect from inexpensively-priced Moroccan sardines. Skin is a little roughed up. The oil is tinged red from peppers, I assume, but I don't see any yet. The aroma is a little fishier than I'd like. A sip of the oil, listed as sunflower, has a heat that doesn't hit until the back of the throat. I see some bones sticking out from the tail end of the loins. No scales or fins, though.

Let's Eat

Heaving them out over rice, I find two bright red peppers underneath. There's a few tablespoons of the oil left in the tin, and I poured most over the fish and rice.

I think what I like least about getting overgrown pilchards is the sense that I'm butchering a side of beef rather than enjoying some little fishes. Nonetheless, the meat is tender and moist, not mushy, and reasonably melt-in-your-mouth in texture.

The fish flavor, like the aroma, is a bit stronger, but not off-putting. The pepper flavor is low but steady, no real complaint there. They don't seem all that salty, and the carton confirms a low 200mg. sodium. I didn't feel compelled, however, to add anything salty to make up for it.

Main Takeaways

Why couldn't they be smaller
Tender, meaty fish regardless
Maybe could have used some salt

Brand: Spice N' More Corp. / Casablanca
Description: Spicy sardines in olive oil
Species: Sardina pilchardus
Country of Origin: Morocco
Source: FAO34, Eastern Central Atlantic
Skin/Bones: Yes/Yes
Net Wt: 4.375 oz.
Price Range: $2

Pollastrini Sardines in Sunflower Oil

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These Pollastrini Sardines in Sunflower Oil came from International Loft. As with other Pollastrini tins in the order, this one also includes an add-on label indicating sourcing from Croatia. I've liked other selections from them so far, and wanted to see what their unembellished, plain sardines in oil were like.

Initial impression upon opening the can: 4.9/5.

The skins are a little rough, but that won't affect taste. The aroma from the tin is solely of the fish, and a little stronger than I'm used to. But not in a bad way. No scales apparent, but I see some tails, typical of Italian packed sardines. They're easy enough to cut off.

A sip of the oil is neutral, as sunflower usually is. Pollastrini produces plain sardines packed in olive oil, and I'm not sure why International Loft doesn't appear to stock them. They do stock the spicy sardines in olive oil version. But, if the fish have a good taste on their own, though, the type of oil isn't necessarily critical.

Let's Eat

Pulling them from the tin, they are quite tender, almost falling apart. The few tails I saw, I easily cut away with a fork. There are six fish, once again testament to Pollastrini's ability to pack more fish in a smaller can than their competitors.

What little oil was left in the tin, I poured over the fish, attempting to avoid the skin and tails debris.

Digging in, they are as tender as they seemed. I found, however, as I worked my way through them, the taste to be somewhat earthy, maybe even muddy. Not a lack of freshness, but something intrinsic to the fish, a blandness. Disappointing.

They lacked salt, but even the addition of a salty condiment didn't materially improve things. Sodium is listed as 550mg, but they tasted nowhere near that salty.

Main Takeaways

Tender fish
Good count
Unimpressive flavor

Brand: Pollastrini
Description: Sardines in sunflower oil
Species: Clupea pilchardus (Sardina pilchardus)
Country of Origin: Italy/Croatia
Source: FAO37, Mediterranean Sea
Skin/Bones: Yes/Yes
Net Wt: 3.5 oz.
Price Range: $6

Porthos Portuguese Sardines in Tomato Sauce

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These Porthos Portuguese Sardines in Tomato Sauce came from International Loft. I've tried a few Porthos selections before, but wanted to see how these in plain tomato sauce were. The ones in hot tomato sauce weren't that hot (the sauce not the fish), so I'm hopeful these don't underdeliver.

Initial impression upon opening the can: 4.9/5.

Nice appearance, silvery belly-side up. Carefully packed, no torn-up skin. Only a few noticeable scales. The tomato sauce looks viscous enough, but has separated from the oil somewhat.

The aroma is of tomato and sardine, both fresh. A sip of the sauce/oil has a tomato-y brightness to it. No overcooked tomato flavor here.

Let's Eat

There are five fish total, and of a welcome size for my preference. They are firm and lift out of the tin virtually intact. There is a tablespoon or so of liquid left in the tin, and I whisked the oil and tomato back together before pouring most of it over the fish.

The fish are firm and meaty, resisting the pierce of the fork somewhat. They have a fresh sardine flavor, and are moist enough.

The tomato sauce has a fresh flavor, and I'm surprised to see it's nothing more than tomato, sunflower oil and salt.

The salt level is low, 230mg. sodium, but it didn't feel deficient.

Main Takeaways

Firm, meaty sardines
Nice 5 count size
Fresh tasting, minimal tomato sauce

At $6, I'd have no problem recommending these.

Brand: Conservas Portugal Norte / Porthos
Description: 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

Espinaler Sardines in Spicy Vegetable Oil 3/5

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These Espinaler Sardines in Spicy Vegetable Oil 3/5 came with a Caputo's order from a few weeks ago. I'd had their baby sardines in spicy olive oil and their regular 3/5 sardines in olive oil, and found them both OK. I may have just added these to make the order a little bigger. They ship tinned fish orders for free, and I always like to get at least 6 or more cans at a time, out of a sense of fairness to the vendor.

Initial impression upon opening the can: 4.9/5.

The 3/5 means you should expect 3 to 5 fish. Here we have four. It's a deep can, so they're a large four. Nicely packed silver belly side-up, but I can see a few things I would rather had been cleaned out better during processing. There are no scales evident, but there are a couple tails. There are also a few bits of what looks like grass. The Espinaler in the blue cartons are their "classic" line, so they're not expensive as imported Spanish sardines go, but my previous experience with them has been of cleaner-looking fish.

The aroma doesn't reveal much. A sip of the mostly clear (sunflower) oil is neutral. I thought for a moment I detected a modicum of heat, but a second sip was confirmedly bland. The applied US label covering the back panel of the carton lists "sweet chili flavour", which I thought was odd for a tin labeled "picantes" (hot).

Let's Eat

Heaving them out over rice, they remained largely intact. I removed and set aside some things from the cavities that were visually unappealing. Don't get me wrong, I live in a part of the country with abundant, fresh seafood, and I eat some things folks from elsewhere probably wouldn't touch. It's not that I thought whatever these parts were was harmful, I just chose not to let them get in the way of my enjoyment, if you get my meaning.

Anyway, the fish are tender and moist. I wouldn't call them juicy, and honestly, I don't think I've ever had a sardine I'd characterize as juicy that wasn't really just mushy. These do have a good sardine flavor, though.

They're a bit on the salty side, even though the carton lists only 390mg. sodium. It's not a deal breaker.

The problem here is that there's no heat or spice. There's no physical pepper in the can, so I don't know if they just forgot to squirt whatever "flavour" makes them "picantes" into the can or what.

Main Takeaways

Tender, moist fish, but some visually unappealing bits I could have done without
A little salty
Where's the heat?

I've liked the other Espinaler tins I've had so far, so it's a bit disappointing this one didn't deliver as promised.

Brand: Espinaler
Description: Sardines in spicy vegetable oil
Species: Sardina pilchardus
Country of Origin: Spain
Source: FAO27, Northeast Atlantic
Skin/Bones: Yes/Yes
Net Wt: 4.05 oz.
Price Range: $5

Sultan Moroccan Sardines with Oil & Hot Peppers

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I got these Sultan Moroccan Sardines with Oil & Hot Peppers at the same time as the previously reviewed tin with olive oil and hot peppers. These cost about 50 cents less, but are packed in sunflower oil. I was curious to see if the difference was worth it.

Initial impression upon opening the can: 4.9/5.

A comparison of these and the others in olive oil places these on top visually. They are less ragged, and look a little larger. I note some scales here, though.

The oil is less red in color. The aroma is about the same, just subtly of fresh sardine. A sip of the oil does not knock me back like the other can did.

Let's Eat

There are only five fish this time, as compared to six for the olive oil version.

Three peppers this time instead of two, but they haven't delivered the heat level of the other can. There were a couple tablespoons-worth of oil left in the can, and I poured about half over everything.

The fish are meaty and tender, but the texture seems a little mealier than the olive oil version. And, although the carton lists the same 440mg. sodium, they taste far less salty than the other.

I ate three as-is, but then spiced up the rest with some Mishima Chef Troy's Recipe Crunchy Chili Garlic Sauce, a new one I recently picked up. I find it to be a well-balanced taberu rayu-style chili crisp, with equal parts garlic, onion, salt and sweet, plus a nutty crunch from the garlic and sesame.

Main Takeaways

Tender and meaty sardine, if not a tad mealy
Not as satisfyingly hot/spicy as olive oil version tried previously
Salt level lacking

I think I'd have to chalk the differences between these and the olive oil version up to just variance from can to can. Admittedly, basing judgement off of only one can of each isn't enough of a representative sample to be relied upon. Each had strengths and weaknesses the other lacked. But I think I'm more likely to try another can of the olive oil-packed version, all things considered.

Brand: Sultan
Description: Sardines with sunflower oil & hot pepper
Species: Pilchards
Country of Origin: Morocco
Source: FAO34, Eastern Central Atlantic
Skin/Bones: Yes/Yes
Net Wt: 4.41 oz.
Price Range: $3

El Manar Mediterranean Sardines in Sunflower Oil

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I got these El Manar Mediterranean Sardines in Sunflower Oil from another new-to-me local vendor, this time a Middle Eastern market. I had been wanting to try the brand for a long time, but they were never available individually priced on Amazon. While they were very attractively priced by the dozen there, I was reluctant to commit to twelve cans of an unknown commodity.

Initial impression upon opening the can: 4.9/5.

This was one of those super stiff cans you think you'll never get the lid off. I was finally able to do so with minimal oil splatter. After doing so, I didn't note much in the way of aroma, only the slightest whiff of a fresh fish smell. A sip of the oil was also neutral, not unexpected from sunflower oil.

There looks to be a generous number of fish in this can, which is a good thing. I also see little or nothing in the way of scales or fins. Also good.

Lunch Time

Unloading the can out over rice, I am pleased to see a total of eight fish. They are firm enough to remain intact.

An initial bite reveals a meaty texture, not dry but not what I would call juicy by any means. I also note they are surprisingly a little salty, but not off-puttingly so. The English language label lists 270mg. sodium, relatively low for tinned fish.

After finishing half the can, I decided to season them up a little. A new jar of Micro Pharms Crunchy Garlic Oil seemed the perfect choice. It has tons of crunch, and by typical chili crisp/crunch standards, isn't salty at all. Turns out it was a good combination. I note the Amazon listing's image of the label says 0mg. sodium, but it's actually a still-very low 60mg.

Main Takeaways

Tender but firm fish
Generous portion
A little salty

Overall, I thought there was much to like about these, and just may consider purchasing a dozen. El Manar also sells a version packed in harissa oil. Hopefully, I can convince the local vendor to consider stocking them as well.

Brand: ManarThon-Zarzis / El Manar
Description: Sardines in sunflower oil
Species: Sardina pilchardus
Country of Origin: Tunisia
Source: FAO37, Mediterranean Sea
Skin/Bones: Yes/Yes
Net Wt: 4.4 oz.
Price Range: $3-4

Porthos Sardines in Hot Tomato Sauce

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These Porthos Sardines in Hot Tomato Sauce are from a recent run to World Market. My previous satisfaction with a similar selection from Nuri had me curious. Those were the same price, albeit from a different vendor. Let's see how it went.

Initial impression upon opening the can: 4.9/5.

Nice looking fish, even partially obscured by the tomato sauce. There look to be five fish. They maybe could have fit one more in there. The label actually says "Fish - min. 65%", a notation I don't recall seeing before.

The aroma is fragrant and tomato-y. A sip of the oil (sunflower)/sauce mixture echoes the tomato aroma. The flavor is mild, with a slight sweetness of ripe tomatoes. But I'm getting no heat.

The first fish out breaks apart somewhat easily. A bite of it reveals the meat is tender and moist, with a good sardine flavor. Porthos is consistent in that respect. The salt level is about right, just enough to not be missed. Still no heat, though.

The tomato sauce/oil combo is thick enough that it sticks to bites of fish dredged through it. It has the taste of a tomato sauce that has been seasoned, but not necessarily by hot pepper.

Clearing out more of the can, I find no pepper underneath the fish. Looking at the label, it just says "natural chilli flavoring". Hmmm... Well, that's kind of disappointing.

Main Takeaways

Flavorful tomato sauce, even if absent the promised heat
Good quality Portugese pilchards, nonetheless

If this can's lack of heat isn't an anomaly, I think I'll stick with the Nuri for spiced sardines in tomato sauce. I still like the Porthos Spiced Sardines, though.

Brand: Conservas Portugal Norte / Porthos
Description: Sardines in hot 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