Nuri Spiced Sardines in Olive Oil 125g

This is the tin to start with. NURI is produced at the Pinhais & Cª Lda factory in Matosinhos, Portugal, a canning house founded in 1920 and, to this day, the only one still faithful to the traditional method across its whole production.

The recipe here is deliberately simple: sardines (72%), olive oil (27%) and salt. Nothing else. That restraint is the point, because it lets the quality of the fish and the oil speak, and it is why Portuguese conservas are treated as a delicacy rather than store cupboard filler. The fish is selected for freshness and handled by people who have worked with it for decades. BPA free.

Turn the tin out onto a plate, add crusty bread, lemon and a little cracked pepper. Pour Vinho Verde, a dry fino sherry or a cold beer alongside. Origin: Portugal. Keep a few tins in the pantry for unannounced guests.