Canned fish is an excellent thing to stock in the pantry. Having it on hand can make meal planning easier and save you money when fresh food supplies get low. You'll also save yourself the trouble of fluctuating market prices and in turn, you'll make better sustainable fish purchases. And with all the healthy omega-3s packed inside, there are even more reasons to eat canned fish!
The one problem you may encounter: How do I turn canned seafood into a meal? Fear not, there are as many canned fish recipes to try as there are types of fish, so you'll never get board eating the same old thing. Whether it's cans of tuna fish or Wild Pacific pink salmon, you can make a decent dish out of it that may even rival your favorite fresh fish filets recipes. Plus, it's full of calcium and omega-3 fatty acids, making it more than worth it to incorporate into your diet.
From everyone's favorite fish cakes to a few eye-opening dishes, we rounded up the best 15 canned fish recipes to help you get your seafood fix in.
1. Canned Mackerel Fish Cakes
This saltwater fish may not be as popular as the tuna in its same family, but it's just as good. Taking tinned fish and turning it into a mouthwatering meal, these Canned Mackerel Fish Cakes are so good, you might even forget all about canned tuna. Cake patties are made from mashed potatoes, parsley, capers, and canned mackerel.
Dipped in fennel flour, egg, and breadcrumbs, they're then fried until golden brown on the outside. Squeeze on a twist of lemon and dinner is served. Get the recipe here.
2. Quick Escabeche Style Mackerel
Canned fish is popular in Spain and Portugal, in whole plates or tapas, and they know what they're doing when it comes to food. There's no need to cross the Atlantic to try their dishes though, just make some escabeche.
If you're not familiar with escabeche (es-kah-BECH-ay), let me give you a quick rundown. It's basically a Spanish dish that involves marinating fish an acidic sauce with herbs and spices. Sounds good already. To make a fast escabeche that's both tasty and satisfying, try this quick mackerel escabeche recipe.
Making life even easier, this recipe calls for canned mackerel already marinated in a spicy tomato sauce, then adding in garlic, onion, carrot, thyme, fresh parsley, and vinegar. Give it all a quick sauté, then top it on some crusty bread. Get the recipe here.
3. Five Minute Salmon Dip
Store bought salmon dips often leave something to be desired. Too sweet, too creamy, not enough salmon, ditch the store bought and whip up this easy canned salmon dip recipe. Finely diced onion, parsley, mayo, salt and pepper to taste, and a can of pink salmon is mixed all together then served with a side of crackers, veggies, or whatever else you want to smear it one. Go for Trader Joe's Alaska Pink Salmon or try Chicken of the Sea's.
With this homemade salmon dip recipe only taking five minutes, you'll never by store bought again. Get the recipe here.
4. Quick Salmon Chowder
Need some comfort food? Try this Quick Salmon Chowder. Melt butter and olive oil, then toss in bacon, onion, garlic, chicken stock, corn, potatoes, and canned salmon. Let that simmer, toss in the cream, season, and the chowder is ready. Get the recipe here.
5. Alaskan Salmon with Black Quinoa and Spinach
Want a lunch recipe that uses up your canned salmon that's been hiding patiently in the cupboard? Then whip up this salmon, quinoa, and spinach bowl.
Cooked quinoa, fresh spinach, onion, canned Alaskan pink salmon, lemon juice, and spice are all tossed together and ready to be devoured. Get the recipe here.
6. Salmon Patties
Salmon cakes are good, but salmon burgers are better. A cheap way to get your salmon fix in, making the patties is made simple thanks to canned salmon. You can also use canned light tuna if that's what you have on hand. Mix the can with onion, garlic, spices, panko breadcrumbs and an egg for binding.
Cook the patties on a skillet until golden brown, or bake in the oven for a healthier version. Once these patties are done, load them up on a bun with avocado, capers, red onion, and a Greek yogurt tzatziki sauce. Get the recipe here.
7. Beer-Battered Fried Sardines
Epicurious
Sardines may not be your first canned fish of choice, but after you try this beer battered sardines recipe it will be. Canned sardines are coated in a beer batter, fried, and served with a fresh wedge of lime.
Crispy, citrusy, and satiating, you probably never knew you could make these little guys taste so good. This recipe was found at Epicurious.
8. Sardine Rice Bowl
Need a cheap recipe utilizing pantry staples that saves you a trip to the grocery store and also tastes good? Try this sardine rice bowl. Packed with vitamin B and omega 3, sardines are simply warmed with tomato sauce then topped over a bed of rice.
Oh, and don't forget to put an egg on it! For an extra boost of protein, cook an egg your way and add it to the meal. Get the recipe here.
9. Pissaladiere
Anchovies and pizza go hand in hand in Italy. If you're looking to mix it up a bit though, you can't go wrong with this Pissaladiere. Pissaladiere is a Provencal recipe that tops a thin pizza like crust with anchovies, caramelized onions, and olives. Hungry yet? Well then mix up your dough and load it in toppings, and get baking! Get the recipe here.
Chef's Note: If making dough from scratch isn't your forte, you can sub it for puff pastry.
10. Anchovy Puttanesca
Who said canned fish can't be elegant? This Italian anchovy garlic lemon pasta is not only elegant, but it uses ingredients you probably already have lying around the kitchen.
Travel around the world with your canned fish delights! Canned tomatoes, capers, olives, garlic, and anchovies are left to simmer for an hour, allowing the flavors of the sauce to fully develop. It's then tossed with campanelle pasta. Go on, give in to your carb craving. Get the recipe here.
11. Smoked Trout and Avocado Salad Toasts
Requiring less than 10 ingredients and minimal effort, these high-quality Smoked Trout and Avocado Salad Toasts are bound to become a new household staple. Mix scallions, shallots, endive, avocado, lemon, and a can of smoked trout together.
Top that on extra virgin olive oil toasted bread and you have a quick, easy canned fish meal. Get the recipe here.
12. Corn and Tomato Salad with Smoked Trout
You've got to love Trader Joe's! Taking TJ's canned smoked trout and turning it into a refreshing meal, all you need to add is some fresh ingredients like corn, tomatoes, onion, basil, and balsamic to make this recipe.
The simplicity and flavor combo makes this a recipe to keep on hand. Get the recipe here.
13. Wild Caught Tuna Crostini
I'm sure you've already had too many tuna sandwiches for lunch that you can't even count, but this isn't a tuna sandwich, it's tuna crostini. Turning canned tuna into an elegant snack or appetizer, there are some smashing crostini combinations you can do with a simple can.
Chickpeas, hummus, pickles, cherry tomatoes, strawberries, there's just so many good toppings to put on top of albacore tuna. Feeling inspired? Make one of these mouthwatering crostini. Get the recipe here.
14. Thai Tuna Power Bowls
Move over tuna salad, the Thai Tuna Power Bowl is the next big thing. Bursting with goodness, this healthy bowl is comprised off spiralized veggies, quinoa, cabbage, red onion, roasted chickpeas, canned albacore tuna, lime, and a creamy peanut sauce.
Lunch or dinner, you'll be digging this new canned tuna recipe. Get the recipe here.
15. Mediterranean Tuna Orzo Salad
Okay, so if you have to have a tuna salad, try taking it from a fresh angle like this Mediterranean Tuna Orzo Salad.
Leaving out the mayo, canned tuna is mixed with a filling orzo pasta, fresh scallions, salty capers, Kalamata olives, roasted red bell pepper, fresh parsley, and then drizzled with a zesty, spiced homemade lemon vinaigrette dressing. Now that's how to do tuna salad. Get the recipe here.
This post was originally published on May 7, 2018.
