Small but Mighty; A Tinned Fish Primer

I’ve been known to wax poetic about anchovies as one of my favorite secret ingredients. A filet or two…gently melted into your base while sauteing garlic or vegetables is life changing. That being said, anchovies should be the first step down the path of your delicious love affair with tinned fish.  Tinned fish are a great addition to a salad (tuna, mussels, lobster for example) and yes, on a crispy Mariner cracker with a squeeze of lemon will make a great, quick snack or appetizer, but there is so much more to be enjoyed with these beauties!

Just to highlight a few- Matiz Wild Sardines- Wild caught in the waters of Spain, Italy and Croatia, Matiz Wild Sardines are simple, clean and beautiful. A good, crusty bread and a lemon is all you need, but, gently warmed in salted butter with simple boiled potatoes…a whole new level of fishy joy. Add a glass of Spanish white wine like Ostatu Rioja or Bohigas Xarel-lo from Barcelona, and round this out nicely.

Scout Canned Fish- This company  is all about sustainability and good fishing practices. Good for you, good for the planet. Try their Trout with dill in a Nicoise Salad, or on a Caesar. A little can goes a long, long way towards a memorable meal.

And speaking of Tuna, my own tried and true favorite is Toninno Tuna Ventresca in Olive Oil.
Tuna in oil should not be greasy, just rich and succulent, and this sure is.
On my days off, I love to make a (some may say) embarrassingly huge salad for lunch.

To start:
Combine*
1 cup small tomatoes, cut in half
1 teaspoon kosher salt
*toss together and set aside for about a half an hour
Mix in a tablespoon of Cricket Creek Feta
Two tablespoons good olive oil
Big squeeze of citrus
Teaspoon of Dijon
Add half a jar of Tonnino Ventresca Tuna in Olive oil
Stir to combine

Chop a head of Romaine, and toss in, gently mixing all together.
If I have any of the following (and can hold off on diving in) I may add-

Chickpeas
Croutons
Marcona Almonds
Kalamata or Castlevetrano Olives
Sunflower seeds

This is less of a lunch and more of a self lovingly-indulgent-really-great-for-you moment.
Paired with glass of Italian Soave from Monte Tondo and I may as well be on vacation.

Cheers!

Maryjane Mojer