This Wildfish Cannery Smoked Sockeye Salmon was included in a recent haul from Caputo's. I had a temporary tinned fish budget increase, and decided to splurge and get a few of the spendier items.
Initial impression upon opening the can: 5/5.
The smoky aroma hits you immediately, even before you get the lid completely off. Inside, two fillets are curled up, nestled in snuggly. The color is really remarkable. A sip of the can juice (oil is not listed as an ingredient) is a smoky preview of coming attractions. A nibble of the fish is smoky, salty, savory and mildly sweet. The texture is al dente, as expected with genuinely smoked salmon.
I thought I might be able to pry the fillets out whole from the can, but to no avail. The meat was flaky enough to make them fall apart.
Digging In
I got everything out over some hot rice, and poured the remaining can juices over it all.
The bites with skin added an extra dimension to the texture, softening it somewhat. The smoke, while prominent, didn't overpower or fatigue the palate.
The salt level was up front in the flavor profile. I thought the carton listing it at 330mg. seemed low, until I noted the can is considered two servings. Still, it was not off-putting.
I again found myself dividing the meat into successively smaller pieces, in order to prolong the gustatory experience. Authentically-smoked and well-seasoned salmon can have that effect.
I couldn't resist experimenting, and topped the last couple of bites with some Fly By Jing Chili Crisp. In retrospect, I'm glad I didn't put it on the whole thing. There wasn't enough sweetness to mitigate the heat, so it was a bit overpowering.
Main Takeaways
- A superior example of tinned smoked salmon.
- A premium selection from Wildfish Cannery, although not their most expensive.
- While very good, their Smoked Coho Salmon and Habanero Smoked Coho are both very similarly satisfying selections, and can be had for about 20% to 25% less.
Brand: Wildfish Cannery
Description: Smoked Sockeye Salmon
Species: Alaskan Sockeye salmon
Country of Origin: USA
Source: FAO67, Northeast Pacific
Skin/Bones: Yes/No
Net Wt: 3.5 oz.
Price Range: $12