Sardines in Olive Oil

Classic sardines in olive oil from Portugal

Briosa Gourmet's sardines in olive oil are whole sardines from Portugal, hand-packed in the finest olive oil and lightly salted. Not some bland, mass-produced canned fish, but firm, aromatic sardines perfect for bread, salads, and tapas.

The sardines in olive oil from Briosa Gourmet are freshly caught sardines from Portugal, hand-selected and nestled in fine olive oil. Only lightly salted, they retain their aromatic flavor and firm texture. The classic canned sardine, just as it has been served on tables along the Portuguese coast for generations—simple, honest, and quintessentially Portuguese.

Firm, succulent, and full of sea flavor

The sardine is firm, succulent, and aromatic, with a distinct taste of the sea that is gently enveloped by the fine olive oil.

The skin shines with a silvery luster, the meat remains compact and pulls cleanly away from the delicate central bone. A squeeze of lemon, a pinch of coarse pepper, and the sardine shows why the Portuguese love them so much. Robust enough to stand alone, yet refined enough for good bread. This is the taste of the Atlantic.

While the small *petingas* are delicate and mild, the classic canned sardine has more fullness and bite. A fish with real backbone, in the truest sense. If your memories of sardines are limited to lukewarm experiences, this tin is a great fresh start.

On bread, in salads, or as tapas

Fresh bread is the classic companion for these sardines in olive oil—served simply as is, or with a bit of onion and tomato.

They belong on a thick slice of rustic farmhouse bread with fleur de sel and lemon, accompanied by a glass of Vinho Verde or a cold beer. In a salad, they pair wonderfully with potatoes, green beans, and egg—a hearty lunch without any cooking required. To create a small selection of tinned fish, arrange them alongside the fine small petingas and a sardine pâté for spreading.

The excellent oil from the tin belongs on the bread or in the salad, too; not a single drop should be left behind. In Portugal, people love to eat sardines straight from the tin with bread and a glass of wine at the harbor. If you like, you can briefly pan-fry them skin-side down and place them on toasted bread with tomato. This honest simplicity suits the sardine perfectly.

Hand-packed in Figueira da Foz

Briosa Gourmet is a brand by A Briosa, based in the fishing port of Figueira da Foz for over 30 years, founded by António Faustino on the Portuguese Atlantic coast in 1991.

The fish arrives fresh right at the port of Cabedelo without long transport routes. Busy hands clean the sardines and place them into the tins with nimble movements before the cans are topped with olive oil and preserved gently with steam. Up to 60,000 tins are produced in a single day, each hand-wrapped in azulejo-patterned paper. Sardine, mackerel, and tuna arrive fresh daily, each variety prepared according to its own recipe.

Briosa Gourmet has been supplied to us for many years by the firm Conservas Portugal Norte, founded in 1912 in Matosinhos, which has been upholding the tradition of Portuguese canned fish for over 100 years. The classic Porthos brand also comes from the same house. Browse for more sardines from Portugal.

Net weight 120g – Drained weight 84g