Surprisingly good things in tins...

[BobbyBiscuits]

Hey everyone,

Just thinking about how happy I was to discover tinned 'greek' gigantes beans.
They're delicious and go with loads of stuff, and don't need heating. From the corner shop too so v convenient.

I'd love to know anyone else's favourite foods in tins that require minimum prep. Preferably stuff that's a bit beyond baked beans, tuna, sweetcorn, soup... Ideally available in the UK!

Thank you and looking forward to some ideas x

I love them too. I once read an article where a chef recommended them with lamb - just as my mum and gran had been doing for years....

We always had marrowfat peas when I was a kid in the 60s - they were indeed particularly good with lamb and mint sauce. Tinned garden peas weren't nice at all, and we didn't have a freezer - I'm not sure when frozen peas became ubiquitous.

Out of interest are you Irish? My ex mil was and used to say best butter

This is genius.

How is this served?

I used to love tinned celery but can't find it anywhere these days. I first had it when I went to my ILs for the first time and was hooked. I don't like raw celery at all but the tinned stuff was lovely.

I’ve got two tins of Epicure celery hearts in my cupboard, inherited from my mother, and no idea what to do with them!

However I must recommend Epicure tinned fruit - vastly superior to supermarket own brands, but not widely available. Often to be found in Spars in out of the way places.

At school we used to have tinned peaches with evaporated milk which was my favourite pud.

is campbells condensed celery soup still around?
@BringBackVanillaIceCreamMonsterMunch

The Heinz tinned spaghetti and ravioli has a lot less salt in these days. Although that may just be a personal thing as my Nan used to make me the spag bol on toast and butter the bread (with salted butter) and then add extra salt to the butter plus salt the spag bol. Used to leave her house feeling like I'd been brined. She lived to a good age so maybe she was literally well preserved.

In addition to a lots of the previous posts, I'd add tinned pears halves in juice. I use them to make the Nigella pear and chocolate cake but also in a salad with blue cheese and toasted walnuts.

I used to love those tinned creamed mushrooms, Asda sold them but have not seen them for years. Likewise tinned blackcurrants, never see them anymore, used to make a crumble and would serve it vanilla ice cream, it was yummy

Yes was going to say that Nigella tinned pear choc cake is really nice

Your description of your nan as well preserved

I used to love John west stewed steak in a tin, gutted you can't get it anymore. Not found another version that compares

They are a lot like lychees - I like them with cold custard

But better than lychees!

In a tin? I hate supermarket shopping but this sounds like a good thing.

people saying tinned celery, does it just taste like normal celery? Sorry mad question. I don't particularly like celery so just wondered!

YY to the tinned pear love. I use them to make a quick Pear Belle Hélène, a perfect summer dessert! 🍐 🍐 🍐 🍐 🍐 🍐

Does any remember Heinz sponge puddings 😋

Our store cupboard tinned basics are
Peaches
Tomatoes
Red kidney beans
Black beans
Tuna
Sweetcorn

We brought some dried gigantes beans back from holiday, what are people making with them?

@Rowena191
i use this recipe
Gigantes Plaki - Jack Monroe - Canned Food UK

actually i am not sure i use this recipe, but i cook with tinned tomatoes and basil, perhaps feta too, will have a search
edit
found it, its from cooking on a bootstrap
Gigantes Plaki – COOKING ON A BOOTSTRAP

I shall remain ignorant then. Don't want to be put off 😂

I loved the coleslaw! And potato salad. Always had it sunday night with egg sandwiches for "tea on the table"

Thanks for reminding me, lovely memories! x

I had an ex who used to cook tinned creamed sweetcorn and serve it with rice. I have never seen or thought about creamed sweetcorn since 1989, but this thread has just reminded me of it.

Tinned celery has a lovely mild flavour. I always think fresh celery tastes like gin, which I can't abide.

We call this potaje, it’s differs slightly from region to region. May I suggest you add a tin of spinach and perhaps chopped carrots and celery, and lots of smoked paprika.

Tin of potatoes.
seasoning - salt, garlic powder, paprika, white pepper (make it your own choice)
olive oil

Drain and pat the potatoes dry with a paper towel. This helps get them crispy.
Put the olive oil in a bowl, along with the seasoning and coat the potatoes
Airy fry for 15-20 mins.

There are loads of similar recipes online, you will find on you like.

Tinned celery has a lovely mild flavour. I always think fresh celery tastes like gin, which I can't abide.

I've never tried tinned celery, I assume it's cooked to some degree? Cooked celery is very different to raw of course.