Tinned fish had a big summer. Patios, picnics, seacuterie boards, sardines on everything.
But here's a secret the fish people already know: tins might be even better when it's cold out.
Why tins in fall
They live in your pantry, they cook in minutes, and they turn a sad Tuesday into something you'd happily serve guests. Here are five cozy dinners that start with a tin.
1. Smoked mussel pasta
Cook a short pasta. Warm garlic and chili in olive oil, then add the tin of mussels, oil and all.
Toss in the pasta with a splash of pasta water, lemon zest and lots of parsley. Smoky, briny and done in fifteen minutes.
2. Squid in ink rice
Make a simple risotto, or just a pot of rice cooked in stock. When it's nearly done, stir in a tin of Squid in Ink from Conservas de Cambados.
The whole pot turns jet black and tastes like the sea. Finish with lemon. Dramatic, a little spooky, perfect for October.
3. Sardines on toast with melted cheese
The sardine toast, but make it fall.
Toast thick bread, lay on sardines, cover with grated old cheddar and broil until it bubbles. Basically a tuna melt that went to Portugal.
4. White bean and tuna stew
Soften an onion and garlic in olive oil. Add a tin of white beans, a tin of tomatoes and a sprig of rosemary, and simmer twenty minutes.
Flake in a good tin of tuna right at the end so it stays tender. Crusty bread for dunking.
5. Warm potato salad with mussels
Boil small potatoes, smash them a little, and dress them warm with mustard, olive oil and vinegar.
Fold through a tin of Limfjord Blue Mussels with Dill and Fennel Seed from Fangst. Cornichons on top. Cozy enough for a cold night, fancy enough for company.
Tin tip
Don't drain that oil. It's flavoured by the fish and it's gold for cooking. Start your sauce with it, dress your potatoes with it, toast your bread in it.
What to pour
Most of these love a crisp white with good acidity. For the squid ink and the stew, a light chilled red is great too.
Our tin wall rotates all the time, so come by 614 Gerrard St E and tell us what you're cooking. We'll find you the right tin. #AllTheBestStuff