Tinned oily fish

[Pleasenomoreglitter]

Hi, I’m looking for ideas from people who eat tinned oily fish such as mackerel and sardines on what to do with them. I’ve bought some mackerel in spicy tomato sauce but realised I’m not actually sure how to serve it! I’ve seen people talk about having these / sardines on toast, but do you eat them cold from the tin spread on the toast or are you supposed to heat them up? Tuna I’d usually eat cold mixed with mayonnaise and sometimes use it in pasta sauce. So I feel a bit daft not knowing how to eat other tinned fish but it was never eaten in my house growing up so I have no reference point!

This sounds delicious.

There is a sardine shortage atm, apparently

OK all anchovy lovers help me out.

I have only had them as a child on holiday. I was not impressed.

I would like to try them gain, I know lots of people have suggested using them as a seasoning but I can't afford to make something like a chicken risk me not liking it.

Any suggestions both for the brand, at less than the £5-10 on those sites and what to make?

@sashh Have you ever thought of pissaladière as a low-risk exploratory dish? Plenty of recipes on the interweb.

As for brand... I don't get the £5+ per tin thing either, other than as a highly effective mechanism for separating fools and their money. Nobody I know can tell the difference once it's on a plate, and it doesn't make your shit smell any nicer either. Lidl's own brand (Nixe) works fine for us.

@sashh if you are using anchovies as a seasoning - buy any old tin from the supermarket or jar. https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/nov/08/our-10-best-anchovy-recipes

Puttanesca is a favourite for me - but I love salt. I've made the potato salad in the link above as well and it was lovely.

Yehudi Menuhin's stuffed aubergines, I love it That book sounds wonderful. What is it?

Phwoooarrr, that chicken recipe sounds amazing and I'm 100% going to cook it at the weekend. Right up my street and my DP, who is having a rubbish time at the moment and needs cheering up, will absolutely love it.

Taste of Fame, it was called. I'm not at home at the moment but will try to remember when I'm back next weekend to post a picture of the recipe.

https://www.sainsburysmagazine.co.uk/recipes/sides/sauteed-greens-with-golden-anchovy-crumbs

This looks easy and nice...

Mackerel in tomato sauce is a nice snack on crisp bread or a hot open sandwich. Put finely chopped yellow onion on toast bread, add mashed up mackerel, put cheese on top and bake in the oven for about ten minutes until the bread is crisp and the cheese is bubbling.

I’ve been finding that the last few months!

We also regularly make mackerel pasta, but a tomatoey version - fry onions and peppers, add tinned tomatoes and herbs etc, add about 3 tins of drained mackerel in oil. Cook the pasta on the side (usually rigatoni) and stir cooked pasta and a slug of pasta water to taste into the mackerel pasta sauce.

However, yours sounded delicious so we’re having that for tea tonight - will report back! Loving this thread for the tinned oily fish inspiration.

We had Bombay saag aloo with some pan fried mackerel for dinner this evening.

Sardines in olive oil, pan fry to heat through with lemon juice and black pepper and have on sourdough toast and top with a handful of rocket.

I forgot that I wanted to cook these at some point

Mackerel pasties as the link wont seem to show

It's funny how I've always done it with a creamy sauce and never thought to try with a tomato sauce. I've got ingredients ready for next weeks meals to try with tomatoes, so I'll try mimic your recipe!

I've always done it with tomato sauce but having read this thread, bought the ingredients for a creamy version today!

Yes, exactly the same but in reverse for us!

Well, we all had it tonight and it was resounding approval from all of us! It will be added to the repertoire. Thanks!

Hope you enjoy the tomatoey one - it’s very different but also lovely and critically, very easy and quick mid-week!

I am enjoying this thread. Thanm you. Is oily fish healthy? Ie does it count in the 2 portions a week? Keen to increase fish offerings to my toddler and this could be a cheaper way than buying fish filets

Yes it is. NHS guidance is at least two portions of fish per week, at least one of oily fish. Personally I think oily fish is great and have it three ior four times a week, maybe more.

I need to eat more but I’m REALLY funny about bones
whats the best to go for?

I never find any bones in tinned mackerel. Just big chunks of nice fish. I find tinned salmon often has quite a lot, and sardines too - though (don’t freak out!) they’re entirely edible as the process softens them. Mackerel should be safe for you though.

If you don't want the additional calcium source, just buy tinned fillets. They're much easier to find than ones with bones in these days (have to pay for Parmentier ones to get bones most times - not a hard choice, really, but it was much easier when the cheapest tins always included them).

I get loads of calcium so that’s all good. Just looking for something different as I don’t eat chicken or steak and I’m feeling limited!