Small mackerel in spicy olive oil

Small Mackerel in Spicy Olive Oil with Piri-Piri

Small Mackerel in Spicy Olive Oil from Nuri are whole, young mackerel from Portugal, packed in flavorful olive oil with piri-piri. Buttery and tender with a fiery edge – a canned fish for those who like things a little hotter.

Small Mackerel in Spicy Olive Oil is the fiery sister to the mild tin of mackerel from the traditional Nuri cannery in Matosinhos. Young mackerel are placed in the tin by hand and covered with olive oil, which gets its heat from piri-piri. The result is tender meat that melts like butter and an oil that provides a real tingle. Warmth from Portugal, straight from the tin.

First buttery and tender, then fiery

These spicy mackerel taste mild and buttery at first, then the heat of the piri-piri follows, providing a slow, lingering warmth.

Piri-piri is the small Portuguese chili native to the country's cuisine—it doesn't burn wildly, but seasons with character. On the palate, the tender, melting meat, the rounded fruitiness of the oil, and the fiery note play together, making it buttery, savory, and spicy all at once. And yet, the delicate flavor of the mackerel always remains at the forefront—the heat accompanies it without ever overpowering it. A tin for days when you're looking for a little more temperament.

On bread, with a cold beer

Hearty bread is the perfect foundation for these spicy mackerel, as the heat needs something to cushion it and a cool drink on the side.

Place them on toasted sourdough with a dollop of cream cheese to tame the heat, and pair with a cold beer or a glass of dry white wine. When flaked, they turn simple pasta into a savory meal, or add a spicy accent to a salad with chickpeas and red onion. They are also a small treat on a baked potato or served alongside scrambled eggs on the weekend.

If you prefer things mild, reach for the mild version in olive oil; if you love the heat, also try the spicy sardines in olive oil from our Portuguese canned fish selection.

Handcrafted in Matosinhos since 1920

Nuri is part of Conservas Pinhais in Matosinhos, founded in 1920—one of the few remaining traditional Portuguese canneries that still packs its fish by hand to this day.

A single tin requires 37 steps, almost all of them by human hands. Experienced women clean, head, and pack the fish individually before the flavorful oil with piri-piri is added. The Nuri brand has existed since 1935, and since 2016, Austrian native Jakob Glatz has been running the traditional company. Legend has it that an Arab trader shouted "Nuri!" when opening a tin—a word for light and purity, so brightly did the fish shine inside. Impressive, indeed.

The spicy oil over a fried egg

The spicy oil is every bit as good as the fish and worth saving—drizzle it over warm potatoes, add it to a tomato sauce, or pour it over a fried egg.

Unopened, the mackerel will keep for years and even become more rounded in flavor over time. Once opened, store them covered in the refrigerator; they will taste even more flavorful the next day. Keep a small supply in your pantry, and on gray days, you can bring a piece of the Portuguese sun to your plate. You can find more from the Nuri range with us, from mild sardines to gift sets.

Content 125g – Drained weight 90g