Smoked Small Sardines in Olive Oil

José Gourmet's Smoked Small Sardines in Olive Oil take the petinga — those prized small sardines from the Atlantic — and add a layer of cold-smoke that transforms them into something deeply savoury and complex. The smoking is careful and measured, adding warmth and depth without masking the clean, briny character of the fish. Extra virgin olive oil brings it all together, keeping the sardines tender and rich in the tin.

These are a step up from the classic sardine in oil — more nuanced, more interesting, and just as versatile. Eat them on toast with a smear of butter and a squeeze of lemon, add them to a conservas board alongside milder tins for contrast, or fold them into a warm potato salad. A natural with a glass of Vinho Verde or a crisp white.