In the Kitchen with Tinned Fish Club

In many parts of the country, it feels too hot to cook right now. Luckily, the Cratejoy team is partnering with the experts and chefs behind some of our best foodie boxes all season long, delivering fun, summer-friendly recipes and DIY hacks alike.

Today’s super easy, super delicious, no-cook sandwich recipe comes from Tinned Fish Club ! Perfect for summer’s hot weather (and the drowsiness that can come with it), this sandwich comes together in no time and doesn’t require turning on the oven.

Learn how to make a Quick and Easy Sardine Salad––and learn more about Tinned Fish Club ––below!

Behind the Box: Tinned Fish Club

Cofounders Nick and Anastasia launched Tinned Fish Club in the summer of 2020 during the quarantine. “Anastasia is from eastern Europe and introduced me to tinned fish,” Nick explains. “I had no idea about the history of tinned fish, the elaborate artwork, the canning process, or that it was considered a delicacy in many countries.” The couple thought that people might be interested in learning––and trying––more.

Like tuna and salmon, tinned fish is incredibly healthy for you in addition to being sustainable, with high protein and Omega-3 amino acids and low in calories. “In America, tinned fish has a negative perception, but most people eat tunafish,” Nick points out. “Tinned fish is the same concept, but with different fish, mostly sardines and mackerel. The independent canneries we select harvest high-quality fish from sustainable sources.”

“We want them to try new things, have a little fun, and enjoy something they may not be able to find at their local grocery store,” Nick and Anastasia tell us.

Check out more from Tinned Fish Club and subscribe here !

Quick and Easy Sardine Salad Sandwich

Summer is a great time for seafood lovers. You may be surprised to learn that tinned fish is making a resurgence in fancy cocktail bars and dinner parties. Local makers in Portugal, Iceland, Latvia, Morocco, and even the United States are producing high-quality, unique, and sustainable smoked and canned fish products. For our summer recipe, we wanted to share a simple and fast way to try tinned fish at home. If you've ever had a tuna sandwich, this is virtually the same but with a tin of sardines. You can make this any way you like, but here's a suggestion.

Ingredients:

• 1 tin of sardines in oil

• 2 slices of your favorite bread

• 1/2 tbsp. mayonnaise

• 1/2 tbsp. dijon mustard

• Tajin spice mix to taste (optional)*

• Squeeze of fresh lemon (optional)

• Chopped celery, carrots, and/or red onion (optional)

*If you prefer, you can also substitute other spices for the Taijin, such as a dash of paprika or chili powder.

Instructions:

1. If you prefer your bread toasted, go ahead and lightly toast bread. If not, you can skip this step.

2. Open tin and add sardines to a small bowl, pouring in at least 1/2 of the oil from the tin.

3. Lightly mash the sardines with a fork.

4. Add mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, and spices to the bowl. Mix well, keeping the fish a bit chunky in texture, like tuna salad.

5. Add lemon juice and chopped veggies if using, then mix in.

6. Spread on lightly toasted bread to make a sandwich, then enjoy!

You can get quite creative with sardines, and some even come in different flavors or with special add-ins. This simple and fast sardine salad recipe also goes great on crackers and is sure to please the palate!

Try a variety of tinned fish from Tinned Fish Club here !