Tinned fish have gotten a revival as the perfect souvenir from anyone who spent their summer vacation eating boquerones in Barcelona or had a friend who went to Portugal (because of course they did). That oil-packed European tinned fish is trendy, but it can be hard to find and pricier than most of us might want to spend on any single canned food. That said, if you're sleeping on the canned fish options at your standard American grocery store, might we suggest broadening your horizons beyond chunk tuna in water?
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No shade to Starkist—we love a classic tuna salad as much as you do, but the world of oil-packed canned fish is brimming with so much more rich, briny flavor to add to your cooking. Even the cheapest tin of anchovies in oil will add intense umami qualities that you can't get from many other foods, and having a few cans of sardines on the shelf guarantees a reliable source of protein even when the fridge is empty. Of course, we always keep some tuna on hand, too (and the slightly nicer tuna in oil, if we can get it).If it isn't already part of your pantry, it's time to stock your shelves with tinned fish to indulge in its salty, oily, meaty goodness. Here are our favorite ways to use canned fish.You don't really need dressing on your salad if you've got the flavor-packed oil from a good can of anchovies, and sometimes we all need a good shortcut.The phrase "pantry pasta" can call to mind images of Kraft mac and cheese, but if you stock your pantry right—like with a jar of capers and a tin of anchovies—it can also mean a pasta dish so good it's worth opening the bottle of wine that costs more than $5.Just like pineapples on pizza, topping a slice with an anchovy is a divisive topic. Let some anchovies slowly melt into your homemade tomato sauce though, and nobody can argue with that.
Anchovy, Little Gem, and Tomato Salad Recipe
Pantry Pasta with Linguine and Anchovies Recipe
Grandma-Style Pizza Recipe
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Red Pepper Pintxo Recipe
Who said you had to go to Spain for good tapas? This simple pintxo of peppers and anchovies preserved in oil is as close as you can get at home in five minutes.
Weed-Infused Spicy Sardine Spaghetti Recipe
This weed-infused sardine spaghetti is one way to unwind from a rough week. With sardines, a white wine sauce, and noodles, it's just as comforting without it, in case edibles aren't part of your weeknight routine.
Spaghetti Alle Vongole Recipe
Radicchio and Roasted Beet Salad with Bagna Cauda Recipe
Caesar Broccoli Recipe
Cabbage Caesar Salad Recipe
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Sardine and Tomato Galette Recipe
Pesto, Olive, and Artichoke Tuna Salad Recipe
Tuna Melt Casserole Recipe
Tuna melt and tuna noodle casserole both rank high in the canned tuna canon, which means this tuna melt casserole (basically a mash-up of the two) is god tier.