José Gourmet Small Mackerels in Olive Oil. Portuguese tinned fish with small mackerels – robust, succulent, with nothing but olive oil and salt.
José Gourmet Small Mackerels in Olive Oil are a Portuguese tinned fish specialty: small mackerels, preserved in olive oil and seasoned with salt, in a 120g tin. Three ingredients, no sauce, no smoked flavor – mackerel in its purest form, just as it is served on bread in Portugal.
Small Mackerels in Olive Oil from José Gourmet are called "Cavalinhas em Azeite" in their original language. Cavalinhas are small mackerels, and in Portugal, they are among the classics on the pantry shelf alongside sardines and tuna. There, tinned fish in olive oil is not just an emergency ration, but a food staple in its own right, which, when served with bread, onions, and olives, makes a complete dinner. Mackerel is a "peixe azul," an oily, blue fish with darker meat. The olive oil absorbs its flavor and keeps it succulent. A Tuesday evening, the fridge is almost empty: open the tin, pop some bread in the toaster, slice a tomato. Five minutes later, dinner is served.
Taste
Small mackerels taste more robust than tuna and more rounded than sardines. The meat is dark, succulent, and slightly oily, with the full taste of the sea for which mackerel is known. The olive oil coats the fish softly, and the salt enhances its natural flavor. There is nothing else in the tin, and very little else is needed.
Because the seasoning is so understated, you decide how to finish it: fresh with lemon, spicy with chili, or savory with onion. Those who only know mackerel as smoked will discover a lighter, more direct side of the fish here. If you are expecting mild, light fillets from your tinned fish, you are better off choosing the Tuna Fillet in Olive Oil.
Usage
These small mackerels are best enjoyed plain on crusty bread. Toast a slice of sourdough bread, drizzle with a little oil from the tin, top with the mackerel, red onion, pepper, and a squeeze of lemon. Served with jacket potatoes and herb quark or a tomato salad, they make for a quick dinner.
Luís Baena, who writes the recipes for José Gourmet, mixes the small mackerels into a Russian salad with potatoes, peas, and carrots. A second recipe features them on puff pastry with black-eyed peas and egg. Both ideas show how well this robust fish harmonizes with simple, satisfying ingredients.
They are also quick to prepare in pasta. Sauté garlic in the oil from the tin, add cherry tomatoes, break the mackerels into coarse pieces, and heat through briefly. Toss with spaghetti and parsley, and it's ready. The oil from the tin carries a lot of flavor, so it is well worth using.
Our tip: Mash the mackerels with a little cream cheese, mustard, and chives to make a coarse spread. Served on pumpernickel, it makes for a supper that tastes like the coast.
Origin
José Gourmet is from Portugal; the brand owner is the company 100MISTERIOS, Lda. The brand states that it selects artisanal products and places value on high-quality ingredients whose natural character is to be preserved. It aims to maintain fair, honest relationships with both suppliers and customers.
The tin of small mackerels features an illustration by Francisco Providência. Each variety has its own image, designed by Portuguese artists. Together, they form a family of images that grows with every new variety. On the manufacturer's website, Eugénio Roda tells a fable about this variety: Mackerel don't swim, they gallop through the seas. In Portuguese, this is called "cavalgam," which sounds similar to the name of the fish. The packaging is made of recycled material and is intended to be kept as a collector's item.
Who is it for?
The small mackerels in olive oil are for anyone who likes fish with character and is looking for an uncomplicated tinned product for bread, salads, and pasta. They are a great addition to the pantry for quick evenings and make a perfect gift for people who appreciate both Portugal and good design. Other varieties featuring sardines and mackerel can be found in the José Gourmet 4-piece Gift Set. You can find the entire selection on our José Gourmet page. The tin contains fish.
The small mackerels are not suitable for those who prefer a very mild fish flavor – mackerel is robust and remains so even in oil.
Small mackerels, olive oil, salt – the Portuguese tinned fish for bread, jacket potatoes, and quick pasta.
