Mussels in Pickled Sauce

Ati Manel is one of Portugal’s most beloved conservas producers — a brand with deep roots in the Portuguese tinned fish tradition and a loyal following among those who know that the best things come in small tins. Their Mussels in Pickled Sauce are one of their most celebrated products: meaty, plump mussels packed in a spiced escabeche that is as timeless as it is delicious.

The sauce is a spicy twist on the classic escabeche — a medley of oil, wine vinegar, garlic, laurel, and spices that predates modern Portugal and harks back to a time when southern Iberia was part of the Islamic Empire of Al-Andalus (from which Andalusia takes its name). It is a marinade with centuries of history behind it, and on a mussel of this quality, the result is extraordinary: rich, sweet, tangy, and warmly spiced, with a depth of flavour that makes this tin genuinely addictive.

Toss them through fusilli with green olives and a drizzle of olive oil, or eat them straight from the tin with a toothpick and no apologies.