I Brought 18 Different Tins of Fish Home from Portugal Last Summer — And This One Is Still My Absolute Favorite

When I was in Lisbon last summer, I brought home an amount of tinned fish (okay fine, I’ll tell you — it was 18 cans). And guess what? I don’t regret a single tin. Having them in my pantry means the perfect afternoon snack, happy hour appetizer, or lazy meal is constantly at the ready.

About half of the tins I brought back were sardines, which makes sense because they are the most prevalent conservas in Portugal. While I like the larger, more tender sardine fillets, I can now confidently say through my thorough sampling that I personally prefer the tins labeled “small sardines.” Compared to the larger variety, the small sardines are leaner and a bit meatier in texture. They also typically contain some small bones that are totally edible and dissolve quickly (just like anchovies). 

One of my favorite tins to eat (and see on my shelf — it’s so pretty!) is the Jose Gourmet smoked small sardines.

First of all, they are delicious. Jose Gourmet cans a wide variety of sardine flavors, in addition to other fish like cod, trout, mackerel, and octopus. The tin of smoked small sardines in olive oil is the one I keep around for snacking, though. The sardines have a firm, meaty texture and rich, lightly smoky flavor — they’re the perfect bite for tinned fish lovers and beginners alike.

Jose Gourmet sets itself apart in regards to sustainability. The brand is committed to fair trade practices, and it sources ingredients from local small-scale fishers and farms. While it utilizes traditional Portuguese canning techniques, the brand experiments with new-school flavor profiles like mackerel fillets in curry sauce and small sardines in French ravigote sauce. The quirky illustrated packaging (made from recycled materials) is a delight, and it makes picking out new tins a fun little collector’s game.

The best way to eat Portuguese sardines is perhaps the simplest: straight out of the tin with some fresh sliced bread or crackers. I like to doctor it up a little bit with some lemon zest and chopped parsley sprinkled directly over the open can, and serve it with more parsley, lemon wedges, and flaky salt on the side for assembling the perfectly balanced tangy, fresh, umami-rich bite.

This is less of a recipe and more of a template. You can swap in different herbs and add chili flakes, capers, or other toppings you like (a little peri peri sauce would be delish). Use wedges of lime or orange instead of lemon, or serve with fresh apple or tomato slices for layering on the bread. If you’re feeling stuck, think “if I’d like it with tuna salad, I’d probably like it with sardines,” and that rule will never fail you.

Buy: Jose Gourmet Smoked Small Sardines in Olive Oil, $29.99 for 3 (3.2-ounce) tins at Amazon

What’s your favorite tinned fish? Tell us about it in the comments below.