How to Tin Fish Date Night
Tin Fish Date Night is not only an opportunity to connect over a unique activity, it’s also a full meal.
Introduction
Written by Ali Hooke, host of Tinned Fish Date Night on TikTok
The Patagonia Provisions® Spanish White Anchovies were one of the first tins my husband and I used on repeat when the idea of Tin Fish Date Night was born. We loved them so much, every time I went grocery shopping I made sure to pick up a couple extra tins, so we’d never be caught without them. Since then, we have been able to explore the product line and discover what we love to put together, which isn’t hard, since every tin we’ve tried has been delicious.
The Tin Fish and Pairings
You can’t go wrong with any of Patagonia Provisions’ canned fish options, but for this board we’re going to use a few of our favorites: Smoked Mussels and Roasted Garlic Spanish White Anchovies.
Smoked Mussels
If you’ve seen our TikTok content, you know my husband and I can’t get enough of mussels from a can. A good quality mussel has a sweetness to its savory side that is unbeatable. Patagonia Provisions provides us with multiple options you rarely see elsewhere. The market seems dominated by mussels in escabeche. While we love an escabeche, we also crave variety. Provisions Smoked Mussels have a unique smoky flavor that isn’t overpowering. They provide a great base for piling on various accoutrements. The smoky flavor has a deep earthiness that I like to brighten up with fresh sweet herbs such as cilantro, parsley or tarragon. There isn’t an herb that doesn’t pair well with this tin.
Roasted Garlic Spanish White Anchovies
As I mentioned, this tin was on heavy rotation in our early Tin Fish Date Nights. If you love boquerones, like I do, this is not a tin to pass up. The anchovies are nicely preserved, not falling apart. Tender but chewy, they have the deep flavor of a well-marinated fish. To honor this beautiful Spanish fish, we’re going traditional tapas style and pairing it with a slice of manchego atop crispy sourdough toast.
Rounding Out Your Meal
It’s important to remember Tin Fish Date Night is not only an opportunity to connect over a unique activity, it’s also a full meal. So try to round out your board with other items to mix and match for a deliciously filling evening.
These days, we’re sure to include griddled sourdough bread or Patagonia Provisions® Organic Sourdough Sea Salt Crackers. The hearty carbs make for a filling meal.
For the rest of the board, I like to ensure I’m hitting multiple textural components as well as sweet, salty and sour flavors. To do this, I usually pair a couple cheeses—one hard and one soft and creamy like Brie—as well as some sweet items like fresh fruit. Grapes are a favorite because they are juicy and offer a nice crunch. I also include a sweet spread like membrillo (a quince paste), jam or honey.
Making the Board
You can toast the sourdough as you prefer. I usually rub a bit of olive oil on either side of the slices, sprinkle one side with salt and toast them in a pan on a medium-low heat. This method takes longer, but it provides an evenly crispy fried bread blasting with flavor all on its own.
When assembling the board, I try to focus on the actual physicality of consumption. Our boards can get quite large so I like to put the large bowl of bread that will serve as the base toward the back so it’s not blocking any of the low-profile items. From there I group similar items such as cheeses and sweets in one area, and the herbs and various add-ons in another corner. I put the cans of fish within easy reach toward the front, so we don’t drip the flavored broths and oils all over the board.
Once you’ve completed the board, open your favorite bottle of wine—we love natural skin-contact wines with our tin fish—grab a couple of napkins and some forks, and go wild. Savor the creativity of inventing bites and sharing your combinations with your partner, friends or family. This moment is the best part of Tin Fish Date Night.
Most important, enjoy!
Grab all the Patagonia Provisions ingredients in this recipe and follow Ali’s tinned fish (and more) obsession on TikTok.
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